Detained Chemical Tankship a Safety Threat Say Operators

The ship 'Norgas Cathinka' remains detained in Indonesia following a September 2012 collision.

In a statement, the operators,  Singapore-based Norgas Carriers said that the ship, the Norgas Cathinka, was still carrying 3,045 metric tons of the highly flammable and explosive chemical propylene, which was vaporizing every day, creating a buildup of pressure in the cargo tanks.

The Singapore-bound ship was ordered detained by Indonesian authorities after it collided with a passenger Ferry, the Bahuga Jaya, in the Sunda Strait on Sept. 26. 

Forty-three people on board the ferry are believed to have been killed when the ferry capsized after the accident, reports the Jakarta Globe.

The tanker’s Filipino captain, Ernesto Lat, and chief officer, Chinese national Su Jibing, have been named suspects by the police for criminal recklessness. 

However, I.M. Skaugen, the Norwegian company that owns the tanker, has defended the actions of the crew in leaving the scene of the accident, saying that they needed to ensure there was no danger of the tanker sinking or gas leaking from its cargo due to the impact of the collision.

Source: Jakarta Globe