Chemical tanker YOWA MARU with 450 tons of caustic soda sinking, Japan: UPDATE Oct 1
Sept. 30, 2016 at 06:31 by Mikhail Voytenko
Oct 01 UPDATE: Salvage managed to dock chemical tanker YOWA MARU in Kudamatsu Port, vessel was righted, no leak of cargo reported. According to media reports, citing officials, divers found no cracks in the hull, but there were 33 tons of sea water in ballast tank or tanks, which presumably, caused listing. Investigation under way.
Chemical tanker with 450 tons of caustic soda on board reported flooding and heavy list portside at 1045 Tokyo time Sep 30, in Kudamatsu Port, Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture, southeast Honshu Island, Inner Japan Sea. Vessel is in danger of sinking, 4 crew safe, salvage under way. It is not clear what happened, probably grounding or touching bottom caused water ingress and list. According to all available information, tanker in question is small chemical tanker YOWA MARU, IMO 8934116, dwt 432, built 1997, flag Japan, manager SEIWA KAIUN KK. No AIS history, AIS is off or not installed.
