The Ls-Ocean: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On the night of August 1, 2019, the turbulent seas brought by Tropical Storm Wipha led to the unfortunate sinking of two coal-laden barges near Koh Si Chang in Chon Buri. The two barges, with a total capacity of 2,400 tonnes, broke away from the bulk carrier 'Southampton' during the storm, resulting in a significant amount of coal spilling into the sea. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries in the incident. Local officials are collaborating with the barges' owner to initiate a clean-up operation aimed at mitigating potential harm to marine ecosystems and recovering the submerged vessels. Inspectors from the Pollution Control Department are currently on-site to evaluate the impact, and initial assessments have not discovered any oil leaks. However, further inspections were delayed due to adverse weather conditions. The recovery effort has been commissioned to UnderWater Engineering Co., Ltd., tasked with salvaging the barges that sank to a depth of 15 meters while still containing their coal cargo. A 500-meter safety perimeter is being established to contain any spread of coal and ensure safety during the salvage operations, which are expected to include a partial underwater offloading of the remaining coal.

On November 28, 2016, the bulk carrier "Ingrid C" executed a crucial rescue operation, saving five Filipino crew members from the distressed passenger vessel "Kan Zam Express," which was sinking approximately 50 miles west of Itbayat Island in the tumultuous waters of the Luzon Strait. The incident unfolded during a fierce typhoon, with the "Kan Zam Express" found in a precarious state, its bow elevated and stern partially submerged, surrounded by scattered life rafts. The cooperative search and rescue operation was a joint effort involving Taiwan's South Fleet and the vessel "Wei Xing," coordinated effectively by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Taiwan. The passenger ship, which was en route to Taiwan, began sinking stern first, and the Philippines Coast Guard continues to search for two crew members who remain unaccounted for. The successful rescue by the "Ingrid C" concluded with its arrival at Kaohsiung on November 29, underscoring the courage and swift action of those involved in the mission. For more details and images of the incident, check out the coverage from ABS-CBN [here](http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/29/16/passenger-vessel-sinks-off-batanes-2-missing).