LNG carrier anchors offshore Germany’s Mukran after grounding

Several German media reports said that the 2006-built vessel, owned by Norway’s Knutsen, ran aground off the island of Rügen on Thursday morning local time whilst en route to the port of Sassnitz-Mukran.

The tanker has been towed free and moored at the Sassnitz anchorage.

According to the reports, no one was injured and there was no environmental damage.

The reports said the Sassnitz Waterways Police have taken over the investigation into the cause of the incident. The captain of the LNG carrier is under investigation as the person in charge of the vessel.

LNG Prime invited Deutsche ReGas to comment on the incident and give an update on when it expects this vessel to unload its cargo.

Iberica Knutsen’s AIS data, provided by VesselValue, shows that the vessel is loaded with cargo from Cheniere’s Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana.

“We are unable to comment on the incident involving the vessel, as the control and regulation of ship traffic fall under the responsibility of the coast guard (German Water Police),” a spokesman for Deutsche ReGas said.

Moreover, operations at the Deutsche Ostsee energy terminal “have not been affected and are continuing uninterrupted and smoothly,” he said.

“When this particular vessel will unload its cargo is part of ongoing operational planning,” the spokesman added.

The Mukran LNG terminal currently consists of the 2009-built 145,000-cbm, FSRU Neptune, after Deutsche ReGas terminated the charter contract for the 174,000-cbm FSRU Energos Power with the German government.

However, Deutsche Regas plans to reinstall a second FSRU at the facility.