Msc-Sotiria-Iii Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

In a significant maritime incident, two ships have been identified as responsible for a major palm oil pollution event in the waters of Hong Kong. The container ship KOTA GANTENG, operated by Pacific International Lines (PIL), and the Japanese tanker GLOBAL APPOLON were involved in a collision that occurred at approximately 0500 ICT on August 3, 2023. The incident took place at coordinates 22° 07'N, 113° 54'E, roughly 20 nautical miles southwest of Kowloon. The GLOBAL APPOLON, which was carrying 9,000 tons of palm oil, sustained damage resulting in an estimated spill of 1,000 tons. Efforts to clean up the affected beaches in Hong Kong and nearby islands are ongoing, with about 180 tons of palm oil stearin removed by the evening of August 11. Meanwhile, the KOTA GANTENG, after the incident, made its way to Nansha and subsequently departed for Singapore on August 13. As of August 14, the container ship is reported to be en route to Dar Es Salaam. In contrast, the GLOBAL APPOLON remains anchored at the site of the grounding, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by maritime accidents and pollution control.