Giant VLOC Listing Off Brazil

Giant VLOC Listing Off Brazil
Mike Schuler February 26, 2020 https://gcaptain.com/giant-vloc-listing-off-brazil/?utm_campaign=twitter...

Photo shows the Stellar Banner with a severe list off the coast of Brazil, February 26, 2020.
A giant VLOC loaded with iron ore has run into trouble off the coast of Brazil sparking fears that the ship could sink.

The ship, Stellar Banner, began developing a severe list to starboard Tuesday evening around 9:30 p.m. local time after departing the Vale-owned Ponta da Madeira terminal in São Luís, Brazil.

AIS ship tracking data shows the ship departed Madeira on February 24, bound for Qingdao, China.

The Marshall Islands-flagged Stellar Banner, with a deadweight of 300,000 tonnes, was built in 2016 and is owned and operated by Polaris Shipping of South Korea. It is chartered by the Brazilian mining company Vale.

All 20 crew members have been evacuated from the ship as a precaution.

Reports indicate that the ship may have struck an object that caused the vessel to take on water.

Global salvage firm Ardent has been hired to draw up salvage plans.

The cause of the incident is still under investigation.