Classification
- Incident Type: Grounded
- Severity: Medium
- Evidence status: Operator account relayed by contemporary reporting; mechanical explanation remains reported information.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | OOCL Japan |
| Vessel Type | Container |
| IMO Number | 9776195 |
| LOA (m) | 399.9 |
| TEU | 21,413 |
| Operator | OOCL |
The contemporary article reports the length; OOCL's 1 September naming release identifies the vessel as part of its 21,413 TEU series. World Maritime News, OOCL release
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2017-10-18 |
| Location | Suez Canal |
| Region | Egypt |
| Coordinates | |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage |
Key facts
- OOCL confirmed the grounding on 18 October 2017. World Maritime News
- Its spokesperson reported mechanical problems followed by going off course and grounding in sand. World Maritime News
- Tugboats refloated the ship within a few hours, after which it continued the canal transit. World Maritime News
- The company announced an investigation into the actual cause. World Maritime News
Narrative
OOCL Japan grounded in the Suez Canal on 18 October 2017 during a voyage from Singapore toward the United Kingdom. The recently introduced vessel was operating on the Asia–Europe trade. OOCL's September naming announcement had placed it on the LL1 service, whose rotation included Singapore, the Suez Canal and Felixstowe. World Maritime News, OOCL release
According to an OOCL spokesperson, mechanical problems caused the vessel to go off course and ground in sand. The statement did not identify the equipment involved or give a final technical finding. With tugboat assistance, OOCL Japan was refloated within a few hours and continued through the canal. The company said it had launched an investigation into the actual cause. The account does not quantify vessel damage, cargo loss, casualties or pollution, and does not give the duration of any traffic disruption. World Maritime News
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2017-10-18 | Reported mechanical problems, deviation from course and grounding in sand during the canal transit. |
| 2017-10-18, within a few hours | Tugboats refloated the vessel, which continued its transit. |
| By 2017-10-25 publication | OOCL stated that an investigation into the actual cause had been launched. |
Sequence: World Maritime News.
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical problems | Reported | OOCL's spokesperson linked the problems to the ship going off course; the failed equipment and final findings are unspecified. |
Factor: World Maritime News.
Investigation
OOCL announced an investigation into the actual cause. No completed flag-state or company findings have been identified. The mechanical-problem explanation is an initial operator account, rather than a verified final investigation conclusion. World Maritime News
References
- OOCL naming release, 1 September 2017: vessel and service context
- World Maritime News / Offshore Energy: grounding account, 25 October 2017