Containership YM Efficiency (IMO 9353280) was struck by a five-metre wave on Friday June 1st while travelling to Sydney from Taiwan, causing 83 containers to fall into the sea off the coast of Newcastle, New South Wales. A further 30 containers still on the ship were damaged. The wave also impacted the ship, resulting in her being denied entry to Port Botany. She remains off the coast. Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) has warned fishermen and beachgoers to stay out of the water, although there were no hazardous materials reported inside the lost containers.
Angus Mitchell of RMS said that “a full manifest of the cargo on board the vessel, and the condition of the vessel, is being sought’ he said”, adding that “it’s now the vessel operator’s responsibility to recover and remove the 40-foot containers”.
Yang Ming said that there was no security concern about the condition of the vessel and that “as for the containers … Yang Ming will inform the customers and discuss with P & I (insurers) for follow-up.” There were no reports of injuries on board the ship.
RMS said two containers had been spotted about 100 metres off Fingal Head and Boondelbah Island, near Port Stephens. Debris has already been spotted on the coastline and the RMS is warning captains to be on the lookout for ’40-foot containers at sea and on shore’.
2009-built, Liberia-flagged, 42,741 gt YM Efficiency is owned by All Oceans Transportation Inc care of manager Yang Ming Transport Corp of Keelung City, Taiwan. It is entered with Britannia P&I Club on behalf of All Oceans Transportation Inc.
Video at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-44343423