ORATANK

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Tanker suffered engine failure

The 'Oratank', en route from Rotterdam to Bordeaux suffered a main engine failure in position 49 50 45.6 N, 003 17 46.5 W, on Jan 13, 2020, at 07.40 a.m. The vessel was underway again at 08.08 a.m. with an ETA at Bordeaux as of Jan 15.

Oratank to be drydocked

The "Oratank" will have to be drydocked in a shipyard for repairs before being allowed to resume trading. Divers have found a crack in the tanker's hull which caused the ship taking on water. The ship's own pumps are able to coe the flooding. As there is no suitable yard in Greenland, the owner is examining what yard that can do the job. It is uncertain when the "Oratank" returns to Greenland waters. The company sends another tanker as a replacement, but it can take up to a week before it reaches Greenland waters.

Divers surveyed holed hull

Divers were sent to Aasiaat and examined the "Oratank" before it was decided whether the ship could be allowed to proceed. By Aug 22, they finished their surveys. Because of the uncertainty of when the "Oratank" can resume the voyage, the Polar Oil sent the "Orasila" from southern Greenland to Baffin Bay for a voyage to North Greenland. There is enough fuel in villages and towns in northern Greenland and nothing to fear for residences running out of fuel because of the grounding.