Venezuela to probe ship grounding

January 2, 2003

Shipping News

(CARACAS) Venezuela said it will investigate the grounding of a freighter that got stuck near the Maracaibo shipping channel, normally the conduit for half of the country's oil exports.

The Irene E M, carrying 25 tons of coal, has been grounded in the channel since Monday afternoon, Maracaibo Port Captain Jose Fernandez said. Efforts to refloat the ship are continuing. 'We're conducting an investigation to find out what happened,' he said. The ship ran aground because its pilot - one of the few who has not joined a month-long national strike - was tired, reported El Nacional, citing striking tanker pilot Cesar Vicente.

Before a strike began Dec 2, as many as 1.4 million barrels of oil passed through the channel daily. Oil output has shrunk by about 90 per cent since then.

The risk of accidents earlier prompted the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners to issue a warning to its 240 members. The association accounts for 75 per cent of all independently owned tankers with deadweight above 10,000 tons.

Ships regularly run ashore in the channel, which has a chronic problem with sediment. - Bloomberg