MV Heng Tong 77

History
Panama
NameHeng Tong 77
Owner Hong Kong
Launched2010
FateStranded on the beach near Karachi on 21 July 2021
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage3,600 DWT
Length98 m (321 ft 6 in)
Beam20 m (65 ft 7 in)

The MV Heng Tong 77 was a Panama-registered cargo ship which became stranded near Karachi in July 2021.

Description

Heng Tong 77 was 98 metres (321 ft 6 in) in length and 20 metres (65 ft 7 in) wide.[1][2][3][4][5][6] It was built in 2010[6] and had a capacity of 3,600 tons deadweight (DWT). The ship was owned by a Hong Kong–based shipping company and flagged in Panama.[1][2][3][4][5]

Capsizing incident

MV Heng Tong 77 stuck at Karachi Beach

On 21 July 2021, the ship lost anchor and started drifting towards shallow waters near Karachi.[1][2][3][4][5] The ship was reportedly there for the purpose of a crew change.[1][2][3][4][5] The ship is now detained by the Government of Pakistan due to defective conditions of the hull.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs declared Heng Tong 77 as "unseaworthy" and detained the ship.[7][8]

MV Heng Tong 77 stuck at Karachi Beach

On 29 July 2021, the defueling of the ship was completed, resulting in removal of 118 tonnes of bunker fuel.[9][10]

On 23 August 2021, the ship became stuck again at a new part of the Seaview beach after floating 400 metres (1,300 ft) at Karachi's Seaview.[11] Final floating was made on 7 September 2021, by the effort of the Pakistan Navy.[6][12] Rescue operation was conducted jointly by teams of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, Pakistan Navy and Karachi Port Trust.[6][12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Cargo ship stuck off Karachi coast due to poor weather". The Express Tribune. 2021-07-21. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  2. ^ a b c d Hasan, Shazia (2021-07-22). "Cargo ship beached at Karachi's Sea View after losing anchors due to rough weather". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  3. ^ a b c d "Cargo ship beached by storm at Karachi, Pakistan". FleetMon.com. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  4. ^ a b c d "Cargo ship beaches near Karachi's Seaview beach". Deccan Herald. 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  5. ^ a b c d Web Desk (2021-07-22). "Giant Cargo Ship got stuck near Sea View after engine failure". BOL News. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  6. ^ a b c d Ali, Imtiaz (2021-09-07). "Cargo ship stranded at Karachi beach freed after 48 days, to undergo repairs at Keamari: SAPM". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  7. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2021-08-12). "Heng Tong 77 declared unseaworthy". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  8. ^ Ali, Imtiaz (2021-08-11). "Govt detains 'unseaworthy' ship stranded at Karachi beach". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  9. ^ Hasan, Shazia (2021-07-30). "Fuel removed from ship stranded at Karachi's Sea View". DAWN.com. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  10. ^ "The Karachi sea view ship saga". Profit by Pakistan Today. 19 September 2021.
  11. ^ Hasan, Shazia (2021-08-25). "Heng Tong 77 ship becomes stuck again after floating 400m at Karachi's Seaview". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  12. ^ a b "Ship stranded off Karachi coast refloated after 49 days". The Express Tribune. 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2021-09-07.