Sinking of MV Hong Wei
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A fortnight of cargo ships suffered accidents in 2018. A worrying number that represents a third of the accident ships worldwide and that leads us to study the causes and assess possible solutions. Segmenting further, the report reveals that shipwreck continues to be the most frequent cause of ship wreck. Up to 30 shipwrecks of this type of vessels were registered last year. We say continues, since the shipwreck has been the cause of more than half of the 1,036 claims of the last decade. As for the cause of greater losses on board, fires stand out, with an upward trend in reported incidents of this type, 174 specifically. The report also includes figures that lead it to conclude that the trend continues in 2019, relying on recent incidents involving container ships and ships carrying cars. Still, it is true that large shipping claims have decreased by 50% in the past year, according to the Allianz report. Thus, in 2018, 46 total ship claims were reported worldwide, compared to 98 the previous season. It is good news, although if we talk about maritime incidents in general, the decrease has been only 1%. At least 14 sailors have been rescued after the Panamanian-flagged freighter they were traveling in sank off the coast of southeastern China on Saturday, although ten others are missing. The MV Hong Wei sank at 1:43 (18.43 in mainland Spain), about 444 kilometers south of the city of Shantou, in the province of Guandong, according to the Xinhua agency. Three hours later, 14 of his sailors were rescued by a Peking-flagged vessel and a Taiwan plane, although at least ten of his companions, all of Chinese nationality, remain missing. The Chinese authorities have already announced the opening of an investigation to determine the causes of the sinking of the freighter, which was carrying 40,000 tons of nickel. After the ship (which was carrying 40,000 tons of nickel ore) sank off the southeast coast of China, 14 sailors were rescued but 10 others had remained missing. The ship specifically went down near the Basil Channel, south of the city of Shantou in Guangdong. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
Ship on Fire on the Kasai River
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A cargo vessel that was carrying fuel drums caught fire and capsized on the Kasai River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving an unknown number of missing people. It was stated that some missing passengers traveling aboard the ship were without authorization. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
The Shen Neng Accident
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The ship, which was carrying 950 tons of oil, was in danger of breaking up into parts after it ran aground off north-east Australia and initially sparked fears of causing a major oil spill into the Great Barrier Reef. Later on, the accident did cause some oil to leak. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
Uruguayan Ship Accident in Lebanon
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In this maritime accident, a Uruguayan ship that was carrying livestock bound for Tartous, Syria, sank about 11 miles off the coast of Tripoli. Lebanese naval forces and the UN forces based in the country worked hand in hand to rescue survivors of this tragedy. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
The United Star-Sea Hauler Collision
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In August 2003, the 170-foot cargo vessel United Star collided with the 98-foot ferry Sea Hauler, causing 4 people to die and 16 others to get injured. All 192 passengers of the ferry were accounted for thanks to the rescue efforts of the Coast Guard. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
The Tek Sing Accident
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In 1822, this Chinese vessel, which was bringing porcelain, ran aground a reef on its way to Indonesia. The ship met its doom due to an ill-advised shortcut that caused a tragedy, where only about 200 people survived from its crew of 200 and passengers of around 1,600. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
The Vector and Doña Paz Collision
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On December 20, 1987, the oil tanker Vector collided with the passenger ship MV Doña Paz, causing the two ships to sink and creating the worst maritime accident not only in the Philippines, but in the world. The event led to the deaths of thousands of people. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
Halifax Explosion
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This accident occurred on December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax in Nova Scotia was devastated by the detonation of a French cargo ship that was loaded with wartime explosives, due to a collision with a Norwegian ship, leading to approximately 2,000 deaths and over 9,000 injured. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
El Faro Disaster
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On October 1st of 2015, this container ship pushed to sail directly into the path of Hurricane Joaquin only to meet its doom, taking the lives of 33 people. According to marine experts, the company’s alleged greed or the ship’s advanced age was the root of the tragedy. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
MV Tricolor Accident
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Most probably, you have heard of this tragic maritime accident involving a container ship that was carrying vehicles and got involved in three collisions in the English Channel within a fortnight, causing massive damage, sea pollution and most likely the biggest loss in the vehicle exportation industry.
