TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A tanker ship carrying petroleum products collided with a concrete jetty as it was exiting Kaohsiung Harbor in southern Taiwan on Saturday (June 8) afternoon.
The collision, which occurred around 1:10 p.m., ripped away a large portion of the hull on the ship’s right side. After the incident, the ship, named the Tong Yun, requested permission for emergency docking, which was granted, reported CNA.
After the ship safely docked around 6 p.m., buoys were placed around it in case any hazardous materials leaked from the vessel. After a thorough inspection, authorities said on Sunday (June 9) that there had been no leakage, and the ship did not pose an environmental hazard.
The Transportation Bureau’s Safety Board in Kaohsiung is still conducting an inquiry into the cause of the accident and the damage caused to the port facilities by the collision. Footage of the incident shows only minimal damage to the concrete jetty above the water’s surface.
The ship will remain under observation to ensure safety until it can be repaired.