Crude tanker and one of world’s biggest boxships collide
The incident took place off Algeciras in the early hours of December 3
Moundreas-owned crude tanker Gloria Maris and HMM-owned boxship were both damaged in the incident, but are now in the Bay of Gibraltar
ONE of the world’s largest containerships and a suezmax crude tanker have collided off Algeciras, Spain.
The HMM-owned, South Korea-flagged, 2020-built, 23,000 teu HMM St Petersburg (IMO: 9868364) was on its way in to Algeciras from Yantian, China, and due to arrive on the morning of December 3.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence data shows Nicolas Moundreas-owned, Liberia-flagged, 2021-built Gloria Maris (IMO: 9899997) arrived at anchorage in the Bay of Gibraltar on the afternoon of December 3, before leaving in the early hours of December 3. The tanker was heading to A Coruna to discharge small balance of cargo.
The Spanish Salvamento Maritimo (the maritime safety and rescue service) said it received an alert from the tanker at 0519hrs on December 3, reporting that it had collided with HMM St Petersburg 8.9 miles southeast of Algeciras.
De madrugada, colisión entre el buque tanque Gloria Maris, 25 tripulantes, y el portacontenedores HMM ST Petersburg, 24 tripulantes, en las proximidades de la bahía de #Algeciras. Se moviliza el buque Luz de Mar y la Salvamar Denébola. No hay heridos.
— SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO (@salvamentogob) December 3, 2024
El HMM ST Petersburg… pic.twitter.com/PuatFzFWcc
There were no injuries among the 25 seafarers on board Gloria Maris nor the 24 on HMM St Petersburg, the authority said.
After inspections by crews, both vessels were found to have some structural damage, but there was no danger of sinking. Images published by the maritime and rescue service show a hole in the tanker’s hull.
HMM St Petersburg proceeded to its berth at Algeciras, while Gloria Maris is now at anchorage in the Bay of Gibraltar. The Maritime Authority of Algeciras has ordered the retention of both vessels, while safety inspections are carried out to establish the cause of the collision and ensure seaworthiness, Salvamento Maritimo said.
A source close to Nicolas G Moundreas Shipping confirmed that no pollution had been reported from the incident and that the tanker would likely have to undergo temporary repairs.
A spokesperson from HMM said the carrier was still investigating the exact cause of the collision and said there would be no disruption to the containership’s operations.
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