Bulk Carrier Significantly Damaged in Collision with LNG Carrier Off Gibraltar

A bulk carrier suffered significant damage and is partially sunk following a collision with an LNG carrier off the coast of Gibraltar on Monday.

A survey inspection of the bulk carrier, the OS 35, has confirmed a gash amidships measuring approximately 10 meters by 4 meters on the ship’s starboard side. Its bulbous bow is submerged approximately 1.2 meters in the sandy seabed.

All crew members remain on board and the ship remained stable overnight, according to a Tuesday morning update from the Gibraltar Port Authority. The vessel is at anchor off Catalan Bay on the east side of the Iberian Peninsula, however the collision took place in the Bay of Gibraltar/Algeciras, on the west side of the peninsula, as the OS 35 was departing.

The LNG carrier, Adam LNG, which is unladen, has no significant damage but was dented on its bulbous bow. The vessel has suffered no water ingress.

No injuries reported on either vessel.

Operations at the Port of Gibraltar were suspended for approximately 4 hours on Monday but have since resumed in full.

The Gibraltar Port Authority has deployed two tugs and three service craft to the scene. Spain’s Salvamento Maritimo is assisting in the response. The Port of Algeciras is also assisting with assets as needed.

Approximately 400 meters of boom are available on scene and ready to be deployed around the vessel in the event of an oil spill, the port authority said.

“A specialist team of marine salvors from the Netherlands is due to arrive in Gibraltar early [Tuesday] afternoon to conduct a full on-site assessment immediately on their arrival,” the update said. “The Government is advised that weather conditions are forecast to be good in the coming days, which will assist in operations moving forward.”

The OS 35 is reportedly carrying a cargo of steel bars and has over 400 tonnes of fuel on board.

The Adam LNG is at anchor at Gibraltar’s west anchorage.