Video: Stellar Banner Scuttled
The 340-meter-long very large ore carrier (VLOC) Stellar Banner has been scuttled off the coast of Brazil after being declared a total loss due to extensive hull damage suffered during a grounding incident.
The 300,660 dwt vessel, owned and operated by the South Korean company Polaris Shipping, ran aground while carrying iron ore bound for China from Vale's terminal in Maranhão in February. The 2016-built Stellar Banner began listing heavily but did not capsize, and all 20 crew members were evacuated from the ship.
The ship had been refloated and towed to deeper water after 145,000 metric tons of iron ore and 3,900 cubic meters of bunker fuel were lightered from the Marshall-Islands-flagged VLOC.
The Stellar Banner was declared a total loss last week following a structural inspection carried out by representatives of the ship's classification society, with support from divers and a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), and was scuttled about 150 kilometers from the coast of Maranhão.
The portion of cargo that remains in the ship's holds does not pose risks to the environment, the Brazilian Navy said. Remaining oil and oily residue on board were removed prior to scuttling.