Ubc-Tacoma

Due to the predicted stormy weather, the 'Life Passion' was moved to Everingen on the Wester Scheldt on Feb 7 following a decision of the MRCC Ostend in consultation with the Common Nautical Authority. While at anchor off Borssele, powerful equipment had been brought on board from a pontoon for degassing. Measurements in the previous night showed that the situation on board was safe again. The authorities dealing with it - the Common Nautical Authority, the Zeeland Safety Region and the Nautical Commission - therefore gave permission for the ship to sail to Ghent. Ahead of the storm it passed the locks in Terneuzen, and on Feb 9 at 9.20 a.m. it berthed at a quay near the North Dock on the Ghent-Terneuzen Sea Canal in Ghent. The vessel left the port of Ghent again after unloading its cargo on Feb 14 at 11 a.m. and headed to Riga as next port of call with an ETA as of Feb 18. Dutch report with photo: https://www.ad.nl/zeeland/vrachtschip-dat-stil-lag-vanwege-ontploffingsgevaar-ligt-nu-veilig-in-gent~a85f690e/

The owner of the 'Life Passion' with its cargo of iron ore will, together with other private partners, draw up a plan to take the vessel to a quiet anchorage on the Wester Scheldt for further proceedings. That was decided on Feb 5 during a consultation with the relevant authorities such as the Agency for Maritime Services and Coast (MDK) after the ship has been anchored in the North Sea for two weeks.

The 'Life Passion' was being kept at an anchorage 31 kilometers off Oostende since her arrival from Novorossiysk on Jan 20, 2020. It was held two miles off the anchorage for ships bound to the Wester Scheldt. A safety zone of one nautical mile around the ship has been established by the MRCC. The patrol boat 'Sirius' of the DAB Fleet was permanent on site to keep other ships in a safe distance and to be able to evacuate the crew if needed. The anchored vessel did not hamper ship traffic in the area. The ship was being loaded with iron ore, and there was fear of an explosion due to ore self-heating and hydrogen emission. There already had been a minor explosion on board two weeks ago while the ship was under way in the French part of the Northsea. One crew member was injured and medevaced by helicopter. The MRCC of Cap Gris Nez subsequently informed the colleagues in Ostend. While the explosion did not pose a danger to the stability of the ship which was almost in Belgian waters, it was decided in consultation between the French, Belgians and Dutch counterparts that the ship should not continue sailing. An emergency team went on board and started evaluating the situation and eliminating the explosion threat by filling the cargo holds with inert gas. While the situation was under control, the ship still needed to be thoroughly checked. The bulkcarrier with a crew of 16 on board had been bound for Ghent. Only when it is sure that there is no danger anymore and the hydrogen values have decreased significant, it will be permitted to enter port. For this purpose, the cargo holds were being ventilated and filled with nitrogen.