WILFORCE

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Settlement over collision agreed

The Norway-based shipping firm Awilco LNG has agreed a final settlement over a collision of its LNG carrier 'WilForce' with the bulkcarrier 'Moscow' that took place off Singapore in May 2019. The owner of two 156,000-cbm TFDE LNG carriers announced on Dec 19, 2023, a full and final settlement agreement between owners and insurance companies on both sides. According to the settlement agreement, the company will receive about $4.9 million as full and final compensation for cost and lost time following the collision: “As no effects of this claim have been reflected in Awilco LNG’s financial statements the compensation received will be booked as income in the fourth quarter of 2023,” Awilco said. Awilco said in May last year that it has received the judgement on liability on the case involving the 'WilForce'. A UK court based in London said that the 2019-built bulk carrier 'Western Moscow', owned by Ratu Shipping, was mainly responsible for a crash with Awilco’s carrier WilForce that took place off Singapore in May 2019. The court found that the bulkcarrier has caused the accident and appointed 75:25 liability and cost of the case. Also, the combined claims for the damage caused by the collision are in the region of about $17.6 million, the ruling said.Awilco recently signed a term sheet with an Asian leasing firm to refinance both of the company’s LNG carriers 'WilForce' and 'WilPride'. The firm expected the transaction to close in the first half of 2024.

Collision off Singapore

On May 30, 2019, the "WilForce" was damaged in a collision with the Nisshin Shipping's new building "Western Moscow" on its way to Singapore, sailing in ballast. The LNG tanker suffered dents and head to enter the Keppel, Benoi Shipyard in Singapore. To date it was unclear how long the ship would be out of service according to the Norwegian shipping company Awilco LNG, which, based on the preliminary assessments of the circumstances of the collision, believed that the blame was solely on the other ship. Permanent repairs of the "Western Moscow" were completeed on Sep 10, and the ship left Ijmuiden at 2.50 p.m., bound to Muuga as next port of call, ETA Sep 14. The "WilForce" lleft Singapore waters on Sep 9 at 11.30 a.m. and headed towards the South China Sea.