Reviews & Ratings for the Ocean-Belt

delivery U.S. Gulf March 16, trip via Panama, redelivery China, 15.750 $ daily plus 575.000 $ ballast bonus, Sinotrans

Five days after the grounding between Gedser and Ahrenshoop the "Star of Sawara" was allowed to resume the voyage to New Orleans after a hull inspection by divers in the Kalundborg Fjord on Sep 2, ETA Sep 16. The ship did not suffer hull damage, but the amount of salvage costs were a six didgit sum.

It took the four tugs “Axel”, (IMO: 8918590), “Bugsier 16” (IMO: 9021124), “Fairplay-35” (IMO: 9565194) and “Fairplay XII” (IMO: 9107409) 7,5 hours to refloat the "Star of Sawara" on Aug 31. At 1.35 p.m. the "Star of Sawara" managed to get off of the shallows in the Cadet Trench on which the ship ran aground two days ago. The ship must now be investigated for damage before it is allowed to continue with New Orleans. It was held off Ahrenshoop by the tugs "Axel" and "Fairplay 35". After the salvors have deemed the ship safe to sail, it is to proceed to Kalundborg, where a dive investigation is to be conducted. The ship had chosen to disregard IMO's recommendation that ships of more than 11 meters draught should be guided by pilots in Danish waters. The ship was contacted by the Armed Forces Operations Center regarding this issue, who reminded the captain of the pilot recommendation while he was off Bornholm on Aug 29, but without luck. The bulkcarrier was expected to continue the voyage to New Orleans with its fertilizer cargo once it has been released after the inspection in Kalundborg. It dropped anchor in the Kalundborg bight for inspections on Sep 1 at 11.30 a.m. Danish report and video: http://folketidende.dk/Lokal-nyt/Skib-trukket-fri/artikel/433688 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Hz6fP6q5Y