BV Confirms Balu Class Status
Bureau Veritas says the 9,981 dwt chemical carrier Balu, which sank about 120 miles North of La Corunna off northern Spain in heavy weather today, was fully in class and had no requirements outstanding. The Balu was on passage from Denmark to southern Spain with a cargo of about 8,000 tons of sulfuric acid. The vessel was built in Frederikstad, Norway in 1977 to DNV class. The Balu was registered in Malta, owned by Dundee Shipping & Trading and managed by Monaco-based Traschimar. Bernard Anne, managing director of BV's marine division, says, "We have offered full co-operation to and are in close contact with the Maltese and French authorities. All the information we have on the history of the vessel is being made available." This vessel was transferred to BV class in 1980.
Acid Ship Sinks Of Bay of Biscay
A Maltese-registered tanker carrying 8,000 tons of potentially explosive sulphuric acid sank in the Bay of Biscay on Tuesday, French maritime authorities said. The 23 crew were picked up by ships and were safe, they said. A spokesman for France's Atlantic Surveillance and Rescue Center said there was a slight risk that the sulphuric acid would explode on contact with water. "The motor tanker Balu is reported sunk in international waters this morning about 130 miles (209 km) north of (the Spanish port of) La Coruna... while facing severe weather conditions," read a statement from Traschimar. French maritime authorities said earlier that it was not clear why the 5,795-ton tanker had sunk, and described weather conditions as "normal" for the time of year.
