A large bulk carrier, Cape Falcon, has been successfully refloated after being stranded for six days near Gladstone, Queensland. The vessel, which has a deadweight tonnage of 182,066 and is flagged in Liberia, ran aground on September 18 while approaching a designated bunkering anchorage. Initial attempts to refloat the ship using harbour tugs were unsuccessful, prompting the development of a salvage plan involving multiple tugs. The ship was finally freed during the high tide on September 24.
Following its refloating, the Cape Falcon was moved to the N11 anchorage for further inspections. Australian authorities, including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), are conducting investigations into the grounding incident. They will determine when the ship can resume operations, ensuring it meets safety and regulatory standards. Fortunately, no injuries, hull breaches, or pollution incidents have been reported.
The investigation is currently focused on gathering evidence, including data from the vessel’s voyage recorder and crew records. A preliminary report is expected within two months, while additional tests will assess the hull’s condition. The ship is owned by Shoei Kisen Kaisha and is under scrutiny following recent inspections that revealed issues with its lifeboats.
