What Crew Members Say About Navigator-Celtic

The Liquefied Petroleum Gas Carrier Celtic Gas, weighing 20,151 gross tonnes and built in 2015, encountered engine troubles during its voyage from Mongstad, Norway, to Jorf Lasfar, Morocco. At approximately 01:56 UTC today, the vessel was rendered not under command due to a leak detected in the fuel injection valve. Positioned at latitude 52°42'53N and longitude 002°34'58E, the crew promptly addressed the issue. Following successful repairs, the Celtic Gas resumed its journey at 03:29 UTC today, continuing to transport its significant cargo of 6,292.9 metric tonnes of Butane and 6,097.8 metric tonnes of Propane.

The maritime saga of the tanker 'Celtic Gas' continues as it remains stranded at the port of Itaqui due to a critical shortage of spare parts. This vessel, which recently sailed from Trinidad & Tobago after successfully discharging its cargo at Santos, encountered significant power failures while en route to Trinidad for its next LPG loading. Having departed from Santos on May 12, 2018, 'Celtic Gas' faced serious issues with its auxiliary engines, impacting two of them and raising suspicions over the quality of its bunker fuel. In light of these complications, the shipowners prudently opted for a port of refuge, anchoring at the Sao Luis roads since May 18. Here, they reduced the vessel's consumption to a minimum, preserving only essential navigation and communication equipment. By May 24, given the vessel's precarious power situation, four tugs and a pilot maneuvered 'Celtic Gas' alongside in Itaqui, where it has been docked ever since, with tugs on standby due to the malfunctioning mooring winches. Unfortunately, a nationwide truck drivers' strike in Brazil has exacerbated the situation, severely disrupting supply chains, not just for fuel but for spare parts vital for 'Celtic Gas'. This strike has led to fuel shortages affecting airports, gas stations, and cities across the nation, further delaying the arrival of necessary repairs. Local authorities have been informed and are closely monitoring the ship's status. Finally, after a prolonged wait, the tanker set sail on May 31 and successfully berthed in Point Lisas on June 5 at 4:30 p.m.