What Crew Members Say About Runtong6

The U.S. Coast Guard has detained the bulk carrier "Kind Seas" following the discovery of significant safety violations during an inspection in Kalama, Washington, on April 24, 2015. Inspectors from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit in Portland identified these serious discrepancies during a routine examination of the vessel. Major issues included a complete failure of the emergency generator responsible for powering critical emergency equipment such as the firefighting pump system. Additional safety concerns involved faulty structural fire boundary doors, which are intended to stop the spread of fire, non-functioning bilge pumps vital for clearing excess water and waste oil from engine compartments, and broken life-saving communication equipment. The reported deficiencies pose a considerable threat to both the crew onboard and the marine environment, leading to a declaration that the vessel is unfit for sea travel. Coast Guard inspectors are currently collaborating with the flag state of the "Kind Seas", the Marshall Islands, along with Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, the vessel's classification society, and its crew, owners, and management company, to carry out essential repairs. The bulk carrier, which had recently loaded corn and wheat in Kalama, will only set sail to Japan once all safety issues have been adequately addressed.