ORAKAI

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Course/Position

Latest news

Tanker disabled off

The "Orakai" suffered engine failure in the morning of Sep 13, 2016, about 13 miles south of Cartagena in the Alboran Sea. The tanker was en route to Fos Sur Mer, being loaded with 4732 tons of ethanol and with a crew of 12 on board. The ship asked for assistance, and the Spanish salvage tug Spain "Clara Campoamor" (IMO: 9338022) was sent to assist. The towage took 24 hours because of stormy weather. The tanker arrived at Cartagena on tow and was docked on Sep 14 at 6.45 a.m. Spanish report with photo: http://www.salvamentomaritimo.es/sm/sala-de-prensa/el-buque-clara-campoamor-de-salvamento-maritimo-remolca-en-cartagena-un-petrolero-cargado-con-casi-5-000-toneladas-de-etanol/

MAIB report on collision with beam trawler published

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued the report of its investigation of the collision between the chemical tanker "Orakai" and the "Margriet" in the North Sea on 21 December 2014 in gale force winds. The tanker was transiting on autopilot on a course of 220° and a speed of 10.5 knots. The trawler was ahead of the tanker on a similar course, but at a speed of five knots. On the tanker, the officer of the watch went below on an errand, telling the ordinary seaman serving as lookout to call him if they got within a mile of the trawler. On the trawler, the officer of the watch was totally unaware of the presence of the tanker aft. The trawler changed course, making a collision highly likely. The lookout on the tanker tried to call the officer of the watch, but without success. The vessels collided, causing serious damage to the trawler, which spilled eight tons of diesel fuel. The tanker incurred minor damage. The MAIB investigation identified that the "Margriets"’s wheelhouse watchkeeper was not keeping an effective lookout. He had not seen the tanker, which was only one nautical mile away when he altered course towards it. The investigation also identified that "Orakai"’s officer of the watch had gone to the cargo control room 22 minutes before the collision and the bridge lookout was unable to alert him to the trawler’s proximity. It is unlikely that the collision would have occurred had "Orakai"’s officer of the watch remained on the bridge. Since the accident, South End Tanker Management B.V., "Orakai"’s ship manager, has taken action to highlight the circumstances of this accident to its crews and to improve the effectiveness of its safety management system.Recommendations have been made to South End Tanker Management B.V., the manager of ORAKAI and to Kafish B.V., the owner of the "Margriet", which are aimed at raising the standard of navigational watchkeeping practices on board their vessels. Full report: https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/559d3c62ed915d1592000032/MAIBInvReport-16_2015.pdf

Tanker hit fishing vessel

In the morning of Dec 21, 2014, the KNRM in Hoek van Holland and Stellendam was alerted at 07.00 a.m. after the British f/v "Margriet - LT 36", (IMO: 9284166), was in collision with the "Orakai" 45 miles off the Dutch coast. Also a helicpüter and an aircraft were dispatched to the scene. The f/v had suffered damage at port side, but the situation was under control, and the vessel headed to IJmuiden while the tanker, which had suffered only slight damage, continued the voyage from Sillamae to Portbury, ETA Dec 23, 7 a.m.. The "Antoinette" from Stellendam remained on scene, until it was sure that the situation was under control, while the "Jeanine Parqui" returned to Hoek van Holland at 9 a.m. Neither the Crew of four of the f/v nor the crew of 13 aboard the chemical tanker were injured. The "Margriet" berthed in the fishing port of Ijmuiden at 3 p.m. Dutch Report with photos: http://visserijnieuws.punt.nl/content/2014/12/Aanvaring-kotter-en-tanker-45-mijl-uit-de-kust#sthash.OC0VzOfT.dpuf