Storm damaged containership ONE Apus headed for Kobe

The boxship ONE Apus which suffered the loss or damage of over 1,900 containers in a severe storm in the Pacific is headed to the Port of Kobe, Japan

A statement from owners Chidori Holding LLC and NYK Shipmanagement said that the ONE Apus was now sailing to Kobe with an estimated arrival of 8 December having turned around following major damage to the vessel’s container stacks in a severe storm while the vessel was bound for the port of Long Beach from Yantian.

It is estimated that the 14,000 teu vessel suffered loss or damage to in excess of 1,900 containers, and a photo (above) taken from the containership circulating on social media shows damage to most of the above deck container stacks.

“Once berthed, it’s expected to take some time to offload the dislodged containers that remain on board. Then a thorough assessment will be made on the exact number and type of containers that have been lost or damaged,” the statement from owners and managers said.

ONE Apus charterer Ocean Network Express (ONE) told customers in an advisory: “Meanwhile from visual inspection, we expect the containers in cargo hold to be intact.”

All the vessel’s crew are safe and uninjured following the incident.

Navigational warnings have been broadcast  the Joint Rescue and Coordintaion Centres (JRCC) in Honolulu and Guam to shipping in the area warning potential hazards from the containers lost overboard.

It is the second incident of containers lost overboard to hit ONE recently with sistership to the ONE Apus, the 2018-built, 14,052 teu, Panama-flagged ONE Aquila suffering a loss of containers in severe weather on 30 October also while sailing to the Port of Long Beach. The ONE Aquila was diverted to the Port of Tacoma to offload damaged containers and undergo repairs returning to service on 11 November

Recall that the containership is estimated to have lost more than 1,900 containers overboard after it was damaged in a violent storm in the Pacific on Monday.

The 14,000 teu containership, owned by Chidori Ship Holding, managed by NYK Ship Management, and chartered to Ocean Network Express (ONE) has now turned back from its voyage been Yantian, China and Long Beach, US and is headed to Japan.

According to a statement the ONE Apus encountered a violent storm cell producing gale-force winds and large swells, roughly 1,600 nm northwest of Hawaii at 23-15 hours local time on 30 November. As result of heavy rolling of the vessel it is estimated that more than 1,900 containers could have been lost overboard of the vessel on 1 December.

 “Early investigations onboard the ONE Apus have determined that the impacted container bays remain unsafe for close-quarter inspections; however, it is estimated that the number of lost or damaged units could exceed 1,900, of which some 40 are believed to be DG [dangerous goods] containers,” the statement said.

A spokesman had confirmed that all the crew were safe and uninjured in the incident.

The vessel is now sailing to Japan and the owners and managers are seeking a suitable port where it will be possible to right unstable container stacks and assess the damage. It is not known at publication time how long it will take the ONE Apus to reach Japan.

Navigational warnings have been broadcast the Joint Rescue and Coordintaion Centres (JRCC) in Honolulu and Guam to shipping in the area warning potential hazards from the containers lost overboard.

It is the second incident of containers lost overboard to hit ONE recently with sistership to the ONE Apus, the 2018-built, 14,052 teu, Panama-flagged ONE Aquila suffering a loss of containers in severe weather on 30 October also while sailing to the Port of Long Beach.