At 15:20, local time, Norgas Discoverer (built 1971, 7,270 cbm) collided with the oil tanker m/v “Greek Fighter” (built 1974, 124,000 dwt) in the Malaka Straits outside Singapore. The vessel experienced an electric power black out due to shut down on the auxiliary engines and started to drift. The accident happened while the vessel was without power. No persons are injured. The collision made a 3-5 meter hole in the hull of Norgas Discoverer causing water to enter the “void spaces” (room around the cargo tanks). There is no damage to the cargo tanks, and there has been no oil spill or cargo spill. The Norgas Discoverer carries a cargo of ethylene. Although the Norgas Discoverer is able to resume sailing on own power, NGC is now arranging for possible stand-by of tug to follow the vessel to convenient port. A French frigate is standby in the area and ready to assist the vessel.
I.M. Skaugen ASA (IMS) is a marine transportation service company engaged in the transport of petrochemical gases, LPG and organic chemicals, in addition to the lightering of crude oil. Our customers are major international companies in the oil and petrochemical industry who work on a global basis. In order to serve our customers in the best possible manner we have our own representation in Oslo, Singapore, Shanghai, Wuhan/ Jingzhou, Houston and Gent. We also have our own training programme for our seagoing personnel in Wuhan, China and St.Petersburg, Russia.
The Group currently operates 35 units consisting of 14 gas carriers in Norwegian Gas Carriers (NGC), 2 chemical carriers in Princess Carriers, 1 LPG carrier and 4 barges for the river transport of gas and 2 work boats in Hubei Tian En Petroleum Gas Transportation Co. (TNGC), 8 Aframax tankers and 4 work boats in Skaugen PetroTrans (SPT).