A Greek containership has grounded after hitting an Iranian vessel that has been aground since May off Indonesia.
Oke News reported that the 5,576-teu Tina I (built 2004) hit the stern of the 6,572-teu boxship Shahraz (built 2008) off Batam Island on Sunday.
The Tina I is managed by Technomar Shipping of Greece. The Shahraz is controlled by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.
Barlet Silalahi, head of Karimun Port and the Port Authority Office, said the Tina I had loaded hundreds of containers at Pasir Panjang in Singapore.
The ship, chartered to AP Moller-Maersk and now carrying 4,096 boxes on board, was en route to Tanjung Priok in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
"So at the time of the incident, this ship contained 20 crew members, with the captain, named Krzystor Bogdan, of Polish nationality, and all the crew members were declared safe," Silalahi added.
Being evacuated
"Tina I was also known to have hit the stern of the Shahraz, which previously ran aground in the same position, and was being evacuated."
Video footage shows the port side of the Tina I up alongside the Shahraz's stern at a right angle.
No pollution has been reported.
Two Indonesian vessels were taking crew members from the Tina I.
Silalahi said the cause was being investigated, and the Greek-managed ship remains grounded on rocks.
Maersk confirmed the vessel had grounded.
"No casualties have occurred and there is no sign of any pollution at current stage," the company said.
"We are assisting vessel crew, owners and local authorities to re-float the vessel as soon as possible."
The Shahraz got stuck on a rock midships in May, which led to its hull buckling and left it in danger of breaking in two.
Double grounding
It was en route from Port Klang, Malaysia, to Yangshan, China.
At the same time, Lintas Maritim Indonesia’s 23,600-dwt bulker Samudra Sakti I (built 2001), the vessel immediately ahead of the Shahraz, also ran aground.
Initial reports suggested that the two ships had been taking evasive action to avoid colliding with each other.
Technomar has been contacted for further information.
The Tina I is entered with the UK P&I Club. Its last port state control detention was in 2013.
Last month, the 4,405-teu Maersk-chartered boxship Maersk Launceston (built 2005) hit a Greek minesweeper off Piraeus, cutting the military vessel in two.
