On July 16, 2024, a significant maritime collision occurred off Hay Point, Queensland, Australia, involving two bulk carriers: HL Eco and YM Serenity.
The HL Eco, an LNG-fueled vessel, lost propulsion control while maneuvering to anchor and collided with the anchored YM Serenity. The collision, captured on video from the YM Serenity, resulted in severe damage, including the rupture of HL Eco’s LNG fuel tank and the loss of one of YM Serenity’s anchors.
The collision led to the criminal charging of HL Eco’s captain, Jim Woo Jun, for a violation of Marine Order 30, the Australian implementation of international collision prevention rules (COLREGs).
The damaged LNG tank was empty, preventing a potential explosion. The incident has sparked discussions about the safety and placement of LNG storage tanks on ships.
LNG-fueled bulk carrier HL ECO, owned by H-Line, lost power while maneuvering to anchor and collided with the Japanese bulk carrier YM SERENITY. Footage shows the LNG fuel tank of HL ECO disintegrating upon impact. Fortunately, the empty tanks prevented an explosion. pic.twitter.com/CoyS2Z2l3C
— FocuSeaTV (@focuseatv) July 31, 2024
