CSC FRIENDSHIP

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Tanker broke loose from its moorings in Brisbane

The 'CSC Friendship' broke loose from its moorings at the Ampol Products wharf on the Brisbane River at Lytton on Feb 28, 2022, due to heavy flooding. The vessel was refloated successfully in an operation overseen by the MSQ regional harbour master with the assistance of a marine pilot and tugs. It was taken to an anchorage in Moreton Bay under its own power and moored. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has detained the vessel, while there were no reports of oil pollution or water ingress. It remained anchored at Moreton Bay until it has been inspected by its class society, which will include an underwater hull inspection by divers. The incident was now being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Operations at the Port of Brisbane were at a standstill as the severe flooding hampered navigation following days of intense rainfall across the region which had washed debris into the Brisbane River. The port remained closed to all ship movements as of March 1 afternoon due to inherent risks from water velocity and the potential for debris including sunken objects and siltation build-up in swing basins, berth pockets, and the channel. The Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd was working closely with the RHM to deploy survey vessels to determine safe depth of the navigational areas as well as possible debris obstruction. The speed of the river current and turbidity at the moment was proving challenging in this regard. Maritime Safety Queensland and the state government were co-ordinating multiple salvage teams to remove any debris, and PBPL will deploy its dredge and barge fleet to assist focussing on the port precincts.

Tanker detained for suspected oil smuggling

Chinese authorities had seized the "CSC Friendship" and detained several individuals, including one employee of the Swiss trading house Gunvor, as part of a probe into suspected tax evasion on imported oil in May 2016. Gunvor said it has not been notified of a formal arrest or any charges against its employee. The customs office for Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province in southern China, was investigating suspected smuggling of light cycle oil (LCO), a refinery by-product for diesel blending. The "CSC Friendship" was held to help investigations of Guangzhou customs. Gunvor said it had delivered oil products aboard the tanker from May 10-14. On June 1, the tanker was anchored off Ulsan, Korea. The ship was in Guangzhou from May 11 until May 13.