The search and rescue operation for the missing Indonesia-flagged 52,400 dwt bulk carrier Nur Allya has been called off, according to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency.
The search efforts were stopped on September 9, eighteen days after the vessel sent a distress signal while transiting the waters off the country’s northern Buru Island.
Nur Allya was carrying some 50,000 tons of nickel ore from Sagea, Gebe island, to Morosi, southeast Sulawesi when it lost contact. The 2002-built ship had a crew of 25 seafarers onboard.
The Indonesia authorities said that active monitoring by alerting the fleet and personnel will be continued.
In the wake of the potential loss of the vessel, Intercargo urged ship owners and operators “to exercise extreme caution” when accepting nickel ore and other cargoes that have the potential to liquefy.
“Moisture related cargo shifting and incidents on voyage, widely known as liquefaction, continue to be a major concern for dry bulk shipping,” the association of dry cargo shipowners noted.
Earlier this year, Intercargo released a report in which it stated that loss of life arising from bulk casualties, that occurred over the past ten years, was mostly caused by cargo failure and liquefaction.
Reported bulk carrier casualties during the period from 2009 to 2018 accounted for the loss of 188 lives, while 48 bulk carriers over 10,000 dwt were identified as total losses.
World Maritime News Staff