No one injured after LNG carrier collides with bulker in Gibraltar’s western anchorage

“At around 0100hrs on March 18, SM Kestrel came into contact with the anchored bulk carrier Diamond Star II in the western anchorage,” a spokeswoman for the Gibraltar government told LNG Pirme via email on Wednesday.

SM Kestrel was at the time maneuvering to depart the anchorage and did not have a pilot onboard, according to the spokeswoman.

“No injuries have been sustained, no pollution has been caused and neither of the two vessels have suffered any significant damage,” she said.

The spokeswoman said that both vessels are still in the anchorage, and were “attended by relevant surveyors from their respective class and flag at the earliest opportunity.”

“Additionally, Port State Control from GMA surveyors also attended at the earliest opportunity,” she said.

The 2023-built 174,000-cbm SM Ketrel is owned by South Korea’s Korea Line and chartered by LNG giant Shell, while the 2011-built Diamond Star II is owned by UAE’s Stellar Ocean Transport.

LNG Prime invited both Korea Line LNG and Shell to comment.

A Shell spokesperson said the company would not comment on the matter.

This is not the first incident involving an LNG carrier in Gibraltar.

Back in 2022, the bulk carrier OS 35 collided with the 162,000-cbm Adam LNG off Gibraltar.

The vessel OS 35 clipped Adam LNG, owned by Oman’s Asyad Shipping, as the former was maneuvering to exit the bay.