ANOTHER POTENTIAL drama along the South African coastline was averted last week after Bureau Veritas withdrew certification for the Norwegian owned and operated bulker Stenberg (23 903dwt) because of cracks along the vessel's bottom.
The ship had earlier arrived in Durban in ballast from India and completed loading maize for Turkey when the local ITF, acting on reports from the ship's crew,
alerted the South African Maritime Safety Authority to
a potentially dangerous situation with the ship.
After Bureau Veritas was brought in marine engineers undertook a thorough underwater inspection, where they discovered a longitudinal crack measuring 400mm by 3.50 metres along the ship's bottom.
It is believed the owners wanted a one-trip
certification to allow Stenberg to complete the delivery of her cargo to Turkey where a routine dry-docking was
scheduled, but this was turned down.
The cargo was subsequently transhipped at Durban's combi terminal to permit repairs to the Stenberg while in Durban.
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