The Tianlong: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

An oil spill incident transpired on July 20, 2021, during bunkering operations involving the vessels 'Tianlong Spirit' and 'Desna' in the Murmansk region. The spill, which was caused by a ruptured fuel hose, released approximately 1,400 liters of fuel oil into Kola Bay at the LK Volga temporary offshore transshipment complex. The Northern Branch of the Maritime Rescue Service quickly took action, responding to a call from Sea Engineering LLC, the shipowner company overseeing the operations. In response, the anti-pollution vessel 'Markab,' workboat 'MRK-1000,' and boom-handling boat 'MOB-20' were dispatched to the scene. Responders effectively contained the spill by deploying a secondary boom around the impacted vessel, collecting the released oil products, and utilizing sorbents for further treatment of the contaminated water. The oil spill in Kola Bay was managed successfully without extensive environmental damage, and an investigation into the incident will be conducted by the Transport Prosecutor's Office.

In a noteworthy event, a shipment of Alaska North Slope crude is currently en route to South Korea, marking a rare trans-Pacific voyage. The Bahamian-flagged Suezmax tanker, Tianlong Spirit, has been chartered by BP and docked in Valdez, Alaska, on July 28 before setting sail on Saturday. As of Monday, the vessel was reported in the North Pacific Ocean off the Alaskan coast. The Tianlong Spirit is expected to reach its destination at Gwangyang, South Korea, around August 12, as indicated by cFlow, Platts' trade flow analytics. This unusual shipment highlights the ongoing global movement of crude oil and the strategic trade relationships being fostered between the U.S. and Asian markets.