The Apl-Vancouver: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

In a significant maritime transaction, a vessel has been acquired for $51.6 million in a strategic charter agreement facilitated by China Merchants Bank. This deal marks an important milestone in the ongoing partnership between the financial institution and Seaspan Corporation, setting the stage for future collaborations in the shipping sector.

The APL Vancouver, a container ship operating under the APL banner, arrived safely in Singapore on February 16, 2023, at 03:25 a.m., after a challenging salvage operation. The vessel was escorted by the Singapore-flagged tug, Lanpan 34 (IMO: 9739903), following its departure from Vietnamese waters on February 12. This journey marked the end of extensive firefighting efforts and subsequent assessment by salvage teams and classification inspections. In light of the situation, General Average has been declared, although the full extent of damaged or destroyed cargo remains undetermined. To manage this salvage operation, Ardent Marine has been engaged on Lloyd’s open form terms. Acknowledging the challenges faced, WE Cox Claims Group, a London-based marine claims firm, anticipates substantial cargo losses onboard the APL Vancouver due to the extensive water used in firefighting efforts. The vessel was carrying approximately 4,500 containers as it navigated through these trials. The APL Vancouver is part of the APL’s CIX (China-India Express) service, and the ramifications of this incident are likely to be felt across the supply chain in the coming weeks.

The fire aboard the 'APL Vancouver' has been brought under control after an exhausting four-day operation, concluding on February 4 at 4 p.m. In a coordinated effort, Dutch experts are now working alongside the Vietnamese Rescue Department to implement strategies that will ensure the ship can safely proceed to its next destination in Singapore. Given the considerable magnitude of the impending salvage claim, a declaration of general average (GA) for the 'APL Vancouver' is expected. This extensive firefighting operation saw the collaboration of eight vessels, including the 'CSB 8005', 'HQ 991', 'VT 101', 'TC Dragon', 'Ashico Lam Son', 'Tan Cang 65', 'BP 36-98-01', and the 'SAR 27-01', all mobilized by the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Center.