Hebei Spirit

(This was written after listening to Capt Tandon's presentation at the KLSM seminar on 5 Nov 09)


Hebei Spirit was a case that shocked most if not every single person who has something to do with the profession.

Until now all that we learnt of the case was from the web and print. There were no actual audio visual content. But all the shock and awe the case inspired with the information I gleaned from available sources appeared a boring pale yellow once I saw what Capt Rajesh Tandon had to offer.

The presentation walked us through the entire incident. A computer generated path of the vessels made the whole incident vivid. To add to this he even had a clipping shot by someone on board. A short clip that shows a huge crane towering over a ship. The height of the boom in full fury made the structures on the Spirit appear really tiny.

I knew that it was a floating crane that caused the whole damage. But until I saw the visuals I never realised it looked so threatening.

The Marine spread was going in different directions before the incident. And it appears that they were heading for shelter in view of the inclement weather. But then they seemed to have been instructed to proceed on the voyage. And so they did.

As soon as it became apparent that the spread was going to pass very close to the Spirit, the Master and the ship's crew did all that they should and could have. Who would have even thought of slipping the cable when the spread was passing clear of you. And then suddenly the tow wire parts. The crane drifts on to the Spirit and makes contact on the sides of the 3 tanks that were the cargo tanks on the port side


Capt Tandon told us how the KMST went about the investigation in a very prejudiced manner asking very persuasive questions. The main criticism by the KMST was that the Marine spread was restricted in its ability to manoeuvre and that the Hebei Spirit should have weighed its anchor and run its engine astern or should have shortened scope and dragged its anchor. They even wanted the Hebei Spirit to have slipped its anchor as soon as it realised that the tow line had parted.

The Regional District Court exonerated the Master and the Mate on 23 Jun 08. On their way to the airport, an exit ban was imposed on the two persumably at the behest of the Prosecuting office and Samsung Heavy Industries. Well, what cannot be done if you account for 33% of the DPR Koreas GDP! That is what the Samsung share is! KMST felt the leaks should have been plugged.How on earth can a 1.2m x 1.2m hole on the ship side be plugged? They wanted internal transfer of the cargo. This was already done by the Hebei Spirit and all available tanks were just a little under 100%. Could they not have opened the ballast tank man-holes and then used the pumps to pump out oil on deck so that it drains into the ballast tanks.The IG inlet valves should have been isolated and pressure released. Who in their right minds would take a chance with a flammable atmosphere? What an IG does is prevent fire. You take out the IG and you are letting in fresh air. And with the Korean CG officials allegedly disregarding safe procedures and smoking on deck, we definitly would have had the worst ever fire and probably an explosion leading to the worst ever oil spill.

This was the first time all the Indian Shipping Companies came together for a cause. And it had the support of the various international bodies. Capt Chawla was recognised for his professional efforts and awarded 'The Shipmaster of the Year - Runner up'. Shyam Chetan and Capt Chawla are back home. They can sail again. But cannot call Korea. Who would want to call Korea if officers of ships calling there end up in Jail for no fault of theirs.

For the record, even Capt Glenn Aroza sailed his ship out of Daesan before he ended up in a Taiwanese Jail.

I would like to salute Capt Rajesh Tandon and every one else involved for having stood by the officers and brought them home. In these days when a Master could be in any country's jail because the third mate sneezed, it is the assurance that there are people back on land who would fight for your rights that lets you discharge your duties to the best of our professional judgement.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gL7A1nOOMg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1x6NqOHsU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66J_MazbAfE