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Despite the horrendous loss of lives and properties in the region caused by
the killer tsunami wave, aftermath the sub-sea earthquake centered
north-west of Sumatera, shipping appears to have mercifully escaped the
scale of devastation that stretched from coasts of northern Peninsular
Malaysia to the west coast of Sri Lanka and India.
The Strait of Malacca, which is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the
world recording more 60,000 vessel movements a year, was relatively
incident-free though ports in the region experienced minor tremors to heavy
pounding of waves affecting few vessels in port.
Vessels at sea remained safe from the 10 metre waves that swept across the
region with a ferocity never seen in any part of the world with loss of
loves topping 130,000.
Chennai port, in Tamilnadu, India, that was hit by the wave is reported to
be silted and needs immediate dredging to comply with declared draft depth
but has resumed normal operation otherwise.
The only reported incident at the principal south Indian port was a vessel,
Vroon's 20,475-dwt multi-purpose 'Canadian Express' (built 1986) and the
40,478-dwt bulker 'Gem of Tuticorn' (built 1985) that collided after their
moorings broke.
However Shipping Corporation of India was reported to have been the hit by
Sunday's killer tsunami, mainly because of the vessels it operates for the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands' Administration.
The tanker Teal, which was undergoing drydocking at Port Blair, was the
worst affected as the lock shifted and the ship flipped on to its side.
The vessels Sentinel and Akbar in Port Blair were also damaged as they
smashed into the jetty.
SCI's own containership, the Lal Bahadur Shastri, which was at the P&O
Ports-operated Chennai Container Terminal, suffered minor damage, as did the
tanker Suvarna Swarajya.'
In Sri Lanka, Colombo Port which is on the western flank of the island, was
struck by the waves but has resumed operations.
It was reported that Singapore-based Sea Consortium's container ship Jaami
which was entering Colombo just as disaster struck and was pounded against
the breakwater.
The crew abandoned the vessel and salvage operations has started.
Although Thailand suffered large numbers of casualties, Phuket Port on the
Southeast coast of Phuket Island was not affected as the tidal wave only
reached about two metres running parallel to the wharf which was not
flooded.
In Indonesia, the major reported incident involved the capsizing of Samudera
Shipping Line cement carrier at the port of Lhok Nga, off Ached and 15
crewmen have been reported missing.
The Singapore-listed Samudera shipping company said the 6,693 dwt cement
carrier Sinar Andalas capsized and was stranded by the tsunami that hit the
port of Lhok Nga on Sunday.
Of the 19 crew, just four were rescued after the ship was hit by killer
waves while performing cargo operations in the Indonesian port.
Other Indonesian ports of Blang Lancang in Aceh Province, where devastation
and loss of life has been most severe, and Belawan in North Sumatra Province
have suffered little or no damage as a result of the earthquake and
subsequent tsunami.
The two Indonesian ports commenced normal operations on December 27.
It has been reported that the disaster hit LNG production at the Lhokseumawe
facility in Aceh escaped major damage.
Operations, at the LNG production and export facility was suspended
temporarily on Sunday but resumed the same day later, despite large scale
destruction and massive loss of life in nearby areas.
Press reports quote government official Wimpi Tjetjep, chief of research and
development at Indonesia's mines and energy ministry as saying: "The LNG
port escaped from the tsunami because the wave, when it arrived at the port,
was not as big as in other areas. This was just luck."
Meanwhile transport logistics has been put to its ultimate test in relief
efforts as rescue and aid teams cope with damaged or missing transport links
making it impossible to reach affected areas notably in Aceh, Indonesia and
Sri Lanka. |
