Cseprosperityexpress Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On January 3, the bulk carrier 'CSE Prosperity Express' was successfully refloated and safely towed into Hualien Port following an incident that saw the vessel lose main engine power while navigating towards the port from Thailand. Strong northeasterly monsoon winds forced the ship onto a sandbank, but fortunately, all 17 crew members—comprised of 12 Taiwanese and five Filipinos—remained unharmed throughout the ordeal. Thankfully, no oil leakage was reported. After thorough inspections of the vessel's hull, two tugboats escorted the 'CSE Prosperity Express' to Wharf No. 22, with the Taiwan Coastguard overseeing the operation. The towing operation concluded around 8 p.m. with no signs of oil pollution detected during or after the salvage process. For further details and photos, check out the reports from Focus Taiwan and Taipei Times.

On January 1, 2025, the bulk carrier 'CSE Prosperity Express', while navigating from Thathong Anchorage to berth 22 at Hualien Port, faced a critical main engine failure. This incident occurred about 0.1 nautical miles north of Hualien, right at the Hualien River estuary, during a violent monsoon storm that brought north-easterly winds blowing at forces between 5 to 8 and accompanied by heavy seas. As the vessel awaited pilot assistance for docking, it was driven toward the coast by the relentless weather. In response to the emergency, local authorities including the Maritime and Port Bureau, Hualien Port Fire Department, and the Sixth Coast Guard Squadron promptly mobilized their resources. The tugboat 'Taigang 13205' (MMSI: 416001709), operated by the Taiwan Harbour Corporation (CSBC), was dispatched for rescue efforts but found itself in distress when it became entangled in the towing lines of 'CSE Prosperity Express' and subsequently ran aground at Huaren Beach in Beikou, Hualien County. Given the treacherous weather and the tug’s precarious position near rocky and sandy shores, evacuating the five crew members proved to be too dangerous. Consequently, a Black Hawk helicopter was sent to safely airlift them. Prior to the evacuation, the crew efficiently sealed the fuel tank valves and provided information on the diesel quantities in each tank, along with the vessel diagrams. Unfortunately, one crew member sustained a head laceration during the grounding and was transported to a local hospital for medical attention. All 17 crew members aboard 'CSE Prosperity Express'—comprised of five Filipino and twelve Taiwanese nationals—were reported to be safe and not in immediate danger, while the vessel's main engine power was partially restored. The Maritime and Port Bureau is actively engaged in responding to the situation by procuring anti-pollution resources such as oil booms and absorbent pads with the aid of the China Transport Corporation and Port Services Corporation, as weather conditions allow. Additionally, the Bureau is working with the Ocean Conservation Administration and the local government to facilitate the deployment of these anti-pollution measures and coordinating with tugs, including the 'Champion' from Asia Salvage Company, to assist in towing operations as sea conditions are evaluated. The grounded bulk carrier was carrying over 200 metric tons of residual fuel, raising environmental concerns that are being prioritized by the responding agencies.