Bulk Carriers Collide in Singapore Strait
Two fully loaded bulk carriers collided in the Singapore Strait on Tuesday, leaving both ships damaged, according to The Maritime Telegraph. The accident involved the Capesize vessels Cape XL and Huge Kumano in one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors.
The Marshall Islands-flagged Cape XL had just finished bunkering near Singapore and was moving toward the eastbound shipping lane when it struck the side of the Panama-flagged Huge Kumano. At the time, Huge Kumano was sailing from Brazil to Singapore with a cargo of iron ore.
Tracking data showed Cape XL traveling at around six knots before its bow slammed into the port side of Huge Kumano. The force of the impact pushed the bow into the other vessel’s hull, and the two ships drifted together for some time before crews managed to separate them.
Reports said Cape XL was loaded with bauxite. After the collision, both vessels temporarily lost maneuverability.
By May 21, Cape XL had reached Batu Ampar Anchorage in Indonesia, while Huge Kumano stayed anchored near Singapore with tugboats standing by. Authorities said the accident caused no injuries or pollution. Investigators are still working to determine what led to the collision in the Singapore Strait.
