The grounding of a giant Polaris Shipping-owned bulker off Brazil has reignited concerns over the structural fragility of modern VLOCs.
The fully laden, 300,000-dwt Stellar Banner (built 2016) was deliberately grounded by the master off Sao Luis after it departed Vale’s Ponta de Madeira terminal. That followed what has been reported as some form structural failure and water ingress in the forward holds.
