Two Danish sailors died near Greenland
SHIPPING: Two sailors from the oil tanker Orasila have died near Saarlog, Greenland. The two men were taking a floating pipe ashore, when the pipe tool vessel capsized. They found the men five hours later, when they were both dead.
"We are all deeply moved by the destiny of the two crew members - and our thoughts are with the bereaved. We know that everyone aboard Orasila are in shock and we know they have done their utmost in the attempt to save their colleagues", says shipowner Lars Simonsen from the shipping company M.H. Simonsen, owner of the tanker.
When the oil tanker weighed anchor after the tragic accident to sail for Qaqortoq, the crew was so shocked, that Orasila went aground due to a navigation error 1-2 hours sail from Qaqortoq.
The outer hull of the ship suffered a hole when it went aground and water filled the front ballast tanks. The ship was immovably stuck and not even the summoned assistance was able to pull the tanker off the rocks.
After 163 tonne of gas oil had been reloaded and additional 41 tonne oil was pumped out into the sea, they succeeded in pulling Orasila clear off.
"It was decided to lead part of the gas oil in the ships tanks into the ocean after preceding permission from the Greenland Home Rule, to avoid a major environmental catastrophe. There was a risk that the ship would remain stuck in the rocks and under heavier weather would pose a potential risk of wrecking and thus spilling Orasila's remaining cargo of approximately 1,764 tonne gas oil, plain fuel and lubricating oil", says vice chief constable Morten Nielsen.
The tanker has now sailed to Qaqortoq on its own, where an inquiry has been held.
Orasial was built in 2006 and is registered at Svendborg. The modern tanker, which is permanently chartered to Polaroil has double hull and double bottom. Orasila has a fixed service between the settlements with "clean petrol products". The ship can hold 1,600 tonne diesel and jet fuel.
