Bulk Carrier Detained for Safety Violations

The U.S. Coast Guard has detained the 72,500dwt bulk carrier Kind Seas after significant safety violations were found during an inspection in Kalama, Washington, on Friday.

Inspectors found that that the vessel’s emergency generator didn’t work. Additionally, fire doors were deficient, bilge pumps were inoperable and lifesaving communication equipment was faulty.

Vessel inspectors from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit in Portland discovered the discrepancies during a routine inspection of the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, which was built in 1998. 

“Shipboard fires pose severe risk to vessel crews, the vessel and the port,” said Captain Patrick Ropp, commanding officer and officer in charge of marine inspection at MSU Portland. “The deficiencies were determined to pose significant risk to the vessel’s crew and the marine environment indicating that the vessel is unfit to proceed to sea.”

Coast Guard vessel inspectors are working with the Kind Seas’ flag state Marshall Islands, classification society ClassNK, crew, owner and managing company to make essential repairs.

The Kind Seas, owned by Fairplay Maritime, loaded corn and wheat in Kalama and will depart for Japan after the safety violations have been corrected.