Stellar Daisy
{{Short description|South Korean-owned ore carrier, the largest ship to be lost at sea}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
| {{Infobox ship begin|display title=Stellar Daisy}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship name=*Sunrise III (1993–2006)
|Ship namesake= |Ship owner=VP-14 Shipping Inc, Majuro |Ship operator=Polaris Shipping Co Ltd, Seoul |Ship registry=*1993–2006: Panama City, {{flag|Panama}}
|Ship route= Brazil—China |Ship ordered= 1990 |Ship builder=Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, Nagasaki, Japan |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number=2072 |Ship laid down=July 23, 1992 |Ship launched=February 25, 1993 |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened= |Ship completed=July 2, 1993 |Ship identification=*Call sign: V7RD9
|Ship fate= Sank off the coast of Uruguay on March 31, 2017 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Ship type=Ore carrier |Ship tonnage=*{{GT|148,431}}
|Ship displacement= |Ship length={{convert|321.95|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|58|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|20.326|m|ftin|abbr=on|0}} |Ship depth={{convert|29.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship power=9-cylinder diesel engine, 21,928{{nbsp}}kW |Ship propulsion=Single shaft; fixed pitch propeller |Ship speed={{convert|15.5|kn}} |Ship range= |Ship capacity= |Ship crew= 24 |Ship notes= }} |
MV Stellar Daisy was a South Korean-owned very large ore carrier (VLOC){{cite book |title=Official investigation report - the sinking of Stellar Daisy |date=18 April 2019 |publisher=Maritime Administrator of Republic of The Marshall Islands |location=Virginia |url=https://www.register-iri.com/wp-content/uploads/Republic-of-the-Marshall-Islands-Office-of-the-Maritime-Administrator-STELLAR-DAISY-Casualty-Investigation-Report.pdf |accessdate=22 April 2019}} that sank on March 31, 2017 in the South Atlantic off the coast of Uruguay while on a voyage from Brazil to China. She was the largest ship, by a factor of nearly 2 on gross tonnage, to be lost at sea.
General characteristics
Stellar Daisy was a single-deck capesize very large ore carrier (VLOC) with an overall length of {{convert|321.95|m|ftin}} and a beam of {{convert|58|m|ftin}}. Fully laden, the vessel drew {{convert|20.326|m|ftin|0}} of water and had a deadweight tonnage of 266,141 tons. Her ten cargo holds had a combined bale capacity of {{convert|141332|m3|cuft}}. The gross tonnage of the vessel was 148,431 and net tonnage 44,530. On her last voyage, she had a crew of 24.
Like most bulk carriers, Stellar Daisy was propelled by a single low-speed two-stroke diesel engine driving a large fixed pitch propeller. Her 9-cylinder Mitsubishi 9UEC75LSII main engine had an output of {{convert|21,982|kW|hp|abbr=on}} at 76 rpm. This gave the vessel a service speed of {{convert|15.5|kn}}.{{csr|register=SEAWEB|id=9038725|shipname=Stellar Daisy|accessdate=September 1, 2018}}
The MV Stellar Daisy was classed with the Korean Register of Shipping South-Korean classification society, which surveyed and approved the ship's modifications.
Career
Stellar Daisy was originally built as a very large crude carrier (VLCC) at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Nagasaki, Japan. Named Sunrise III, she was laid down on July 23, 1992, launched on February 25, 1993 and delivered to the owners on July 2, 1993.
In 1992, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) was amended so that all oil tankers of {{DWT|5,000}} or above ordered after July 6, 1993 were required to have a double hull in way of cargo tanks to reduce the possibility of oil spill in the event of hull damage. Following several high-profile shipwrecks leading to significant environmental damage, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) decided to phase out single-hull oil tankers such as Sunrise III with an accelerated schedule.
In 2006, Polaris Shipping Co Ltd, Seoul, purchased four single-hulled oil tankers, including Sunrise III, for conversion to very large ore carriers (VLOC) at Cosco (Zhoushan) Shipyard in China.[https://www.lloydslist.com/ll/sector/dry-cargo/article553292.ece Stellar Daisy: What went wrong?]. Lloyd's List, April 5, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=April 5, 2017}}[https://www.shipinsight.com/did-conversion-contribute-to-loss-of-stellar-daisy/ Did conversion contribute to loss of Stellar Daisy?] ShipInsight, April 3, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=April 4, 2017}} At the time, this was a typical strategy to increase the lifetime of an otherwise obsolete vessel by another 10 to 14 years and, thanks to the high charter rates of large bulk carriers used to transport iron ore to China, the conversion would pay itself back in just one to two years.
Typically, the center tanks of the oil tanker would be split into dry cargo holds while the side tanks would be used for ballast or remain empty. Holes cut on the main deck for cargo hatches and coamings would require additional structural strengthening to retain sufficient longitudinal strength after conversion. A tank top strengthened for high loading rate and grab unloading would be fitted above the bottom frames and girders.[https://www.steamshipmutual.com/publications/Articles/VLCCconversion0108.html VLCC to VLOC Conversions]. Steamship Mutual, January 2008. {{retrieved|accessdate=April 5, 2017}} The vessel returned to service in 2008 as Stellar Daisy.
Loss
On March 31, 2017, while she was carrying sinter fines (iron ore) across the South Atlantic Ocean from the Vale {{ill|Ilha Guaíba|pt}} terminal {{small|({{coords|-23.014|-44.034|region:BR|name=Ilha Guaíba Terminal}})}}, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,{{cite web |title=Very Large Ore carrier with 260.000 tons o iron ore disappears in mid Atlantic |url=https://en.mercopress.com/2017/04/03/very-large-ore-carrier-with-260.000-tons-o-iron-ore-disappears-in-mid-atlantic |website=MercoPress |accessdate=3 April 2017}}{{cite web|title=Ports and Terminals|url=http://www.vale.com/EN/business/logistics/ports-terminals/Pages/default.aspx|website=Vale|accessdate=May 3, 2017}} to China, a loud bang was heard and the ship suddenly began listing.{{cite journal|last1=Joshua Howgego|title=Peril on the sea: Why are so many megaships sinking?|journal=New Scientist|date=Jan 27, 2018|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23731623-200-peril-on-the-sea-why-are-so-many-megaships-sinking}} An officer radioed that the ship was taking on water and listing heavily. Very soon the ship sank. Radio contact with the ship, last reported to be {{convert|2500|km|nmi|order=flip}} from shore, was lost.{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/02/south-korea-cargo-ship-stellar-daisy-missing-south-atlantic/ | title=South Korea cargo ship Stellar Daisy missing in South Atlantic | publisher=Reuters | via=Daily Telegraph | date=April 2, 2017 | accessdate=April 2, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-39467269 |title=S Korean cargo ship Stellar Daisy vanishes in South Atlantic |website=BBC News |date=April 2, 2017 |accessdate=April 2, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.maritimeherald.com/2017/ore-carrier-stellar-daisy-missing-in-south-atlantic/ |title=Ore carrier Stellar Daisy missing in South Atlantic |newspaper=Maritime Herald |date=April 1, 2017 |accessdate=April 2, 2017}}{{cite web|last=Tong-Hyung |first=Kim |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/apr/01/ship-carrying-16-filipinos-8-skoreans-missing-near/ |title=Ship carrying 16 Filipinos, 8 S.Koreans missing near Uruguay |publisher=Associated Press |via=Las Vegas Sun |date=April 1, 2017 |accessdate=April 2, 2017}}
Search
Two Filipino crew members were rescued from a liferaft on April 1 by the cargo ship Elpida. The crew members reported that they had seen their ship sink. The other 22 crew members, 14 Filipinos and 8 South Koreans, remain missing.{{cite news|title=ROU 04 General Artigas regresó a Uruguay sin haber encontrado sobrevivientes del "Stellar Daisy"|trans-title=ROU 04 General Artigas returned to Uruguay without having found survivors of the "Stellar Daisy" |url=http://www.montevideo.com.uy/contenido/ROU-04-General-Artigas-regreso-a-Uruguay-sin-haber-encontrado-sobrevivientes-del-Stellar-Daisy--341036|accessdate=May 3, 2017|work=Montevideo Portal|agency=EFE|date=April 21, 2017|language=es}}{{cite news|last1=Trezzi|first1=Humburto|title=Marinha uruguaia encerra buscas e navio que naufragou com carga da Vale segue desaparecido|trans-title=Uruguayan navy closes searches, and ship wrecked with Vale cargo still missing|url=http://dc.clicrbs.com.br/sc/noticia/2017/04/marinha-uruguaia-encerra-buscas-e-navio-que-naufragou-com-carga-da-vale-segue-desaparecido-9780388.html|accessdate=May 3, 2017|work=Diário Catarinense|date=April 24, 2017|location=Florianópolis, Brazil|language=pt}}
A search for survivors and wreckage was made by Uruguayan, Argentine and Brazilian ships, supported by Brazilian and US aircraft, in a search area of {{convert|70|by|100|nmi|-1}}, {{convert|3700|km|nmi|order=flip}} off the coast of Uruguay. On April 21, the Uruguayan Navy ship {{ill|General Artigas (ROU 04)|lt=General Artigas|es}} returned to port after a 17-day search during which floating debris from the wreckage was found. The search continued with six merchant ships.
In August 2018, the South Korean government approved funding for searching and retrieving Stellar Daisy{{'}}s voyage data recorder.[https://splash247.com/korean-government-approves-mission-to-retrieve-stellar-daisy-vdr/ Korean government approves mission to retrieve Stellar Daisy VDR]. Splash 24/7, August 31, 2018. {{retrieved|accessdate=September 1, 2018}} Exploration company Ocean Infinity's chartered vessel Seabed Constructor departed Cape Town to search for the ship. Ocean Infinity deployed a fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles to simultaneously search the seabed for Stellar Daisy. On 17 February 2019 the company announced that it believed it had found the ship's wreck,{{cite news | url=https://www.foxnews.com/science/south-korea-stellar-daisy-found-ocean-floor | title=South Korean tanker Stellar Daisy found on ocean floor 2 years after it sank, explorers say | website=Fox News | date=17 February 2019 | author=David Aaro}} and soon afterwards retrieved the voyage data recorder.{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190218000498|title = [Newsmaker] Search ship retrieves voyage data recorder from sunken Stellar Daisy|date = February 18, 2019}}
Possible causes
While the shipping journal Lloyd's List reported that cargo liquefaction caused by excessive moisture in the iron ore cargo could be a possible cause of the loss, another shipping journal ShipInsight argued that, while a number of vessels have been lost for this reason, any liquefaction should not have been calamitous for Stellar Daisy because, being a converted oil tanker, her cargo holds were originally the centre tanks designed to carry liquid cargo. ShipInsight speculated that the most likely loss for the vessel was linked to her conversion from a tanker to an ore carrier.{{cite news|title=Calls grow for Stellar Daisy investigation|url=https://www.shipinsight.com/calls-grow-for-stellar-daisy-investigation/|accessdate=April 8, 2017|work=ShipInsight|date=April 7, 2017|archive-date=April 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409021651/https://www.shipinsight.com/calls-grow-for-stellar-daisy-investigation/|url-status=dead}}
In February 2017, China Port State Control (PSC) authorities identified six deficiencies, two of which were related to watertight and weathertight doors, during an inspection in Tianjin, China.
Aftermath
Following the sinking of Stellar Daisy, the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has called for an investigation of the causes leading to the casualty.[https://www.lloydslist.com/ll/sector/dry-cargo/article553366.ece Intercargo calls for Stellar Daisy probe]. Lloyd's List, April 6, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=April 8, 2017}} The safety of ore carriers converted from oil tankers in the 2000s has also been questioned. More than half of the bulk carriers in Polaris Shipping's fleet are such conversions.[http://splash247.com/attention-turns-polariss-19-converted-bulkers/ Attention turns to Polaris's 19 converted bulkers]. Splash 24/7, April 7, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=April 8, 2017}}
Only a few days after the loss of Stellar Daisy, another VLOC owned by Polaris Shipping reported structural damage in one of its ballast tanks below waterline, resulting in a small leak. The 280,000-ton vessel, Stellar Unicorn, was built in 1993 as a single-hull oil tanker and converted to an ore carrier in China in 2008. Like Stellar Daisy, she was fully laden with Brazilian iron ore bound for China when the hull damage was discovered off South Africa.[https://www.lloydslist.com/ll/sector/ship-operations/article553441.ece Leaking Polaris VLOC held off South Africa]. Lloyd's List, April 7, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=April 8, 2017}}[http://splash247.com/polaris-suffers-another-vloc-mishap/ Polaris suffers another VLOC mishap]. Splash 24/7, April 6, 2017.
{{retrieved|accessdate=April 8, 2017}} Stellar Unicorn was also found to have structural and water/weathertight deficiencies in a Port State Control inspection in Qingdao, China, in July 2016 but these were cleared in a follow-up inspection. In June 2017, Stellar Unicorn was sent to cold lay-up together with a number of other Polaris VLOCs[http://splash247.com/polaris-sends-elderly-vlocs-cold-layup/ Polaris sends elderly VLOCs into cold layup]. Splash 24/7, June 21, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=July 15, 2017}} and finally sold for scrap in September 2017.[https://fairplay.ihs.com/commerce/article/4292156/scrap-prices-up-in-bangladesh-as-hungry-yards-seek-tonnage Scrap prices up in Bangladesh as hungry yards seek tonnage]. TradeWinds, September 27, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=October 11, 2017}}
On April 13, a Polaris-owned converted VLOC that was leading the search for the missing Stellar Daisy crew members, Stellar Cosmo, was reportedly forced to head to Cape Town for repairs due to structural damage.[http://splash247.com/another-defect-found-polaris-vloc/ Another defect found on a Polaris VLOC]. Splash 24/7, April 13, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=April 13, 2017}} However, this claim has been refuted by Polaris Shipping which stated that the vessel headed to Singapore for bunkering before continuing to China.[http://fairplay.ihs.com/safety-regulation/article/4284861/stellar-cosmo-not-undergoing-repairs-says-polaris-shipping Stellar Cosmo not undergoing repairs, says Polaris Shipping]. IHS Fairplay, April 17, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=May 9, 2017}} Stellar Cosmo was sold for scrap in September 2017.[http://www.tradewindsnews.com/shipsales/1347515/polaris-sends-vloc-for-demolition Polaris sends VLOC for demolition]. TradeWinds, September 15, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=October 11, 2017}}
In May 2017, two cracks appeared on the main deck of Stellar Queen, another converted VLOC owned by Polaris Shipping, during a ballast water exchange operation while the vessel was underway from China to Brazil with empty holds. Published photographs showed sea water pouring from the ballast water tanks through cracks of about {{convert|1.5|m|ft|0}} and {{convert|2.5|m|ft|0}} in length.[https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/maritime-news/14/accidents/2024/10235/vloc-stellar-queen-with-two-cracks-on-upper-deck-awaiting-he VLOC STELLAR QUEEN with two cracks on upper deck awaiting her fate]. FleetMon, May 7, 2017. {{retrieved|accessdate=May 9, 2017}}
Investigation and legal proceedings
On January 21, 2019, subsequent to an investigation conducted by the Korean Coast Guard at the request of the South Korean government, a South Korean prosecutor indicted Polaris Shipping Head of Maritime Affairs including a KRS surveyor and two thickness measurement technicians. The heads of Polaris Shipping were charged for not notifying the relevant government body of defects of the hull of the vessel and for their loading method which was allegedly not certified by the class society. The heads denied those charges. Moreover, the charges were for procedural issues and not for substantial ones. It was alleged by the prosecutor that the thickness measurement company forged the documents which were to prove that their engineers had fulfilled the annual education required by the licensing entity. This charge was not about thickness measurement itself but about their renewal of the license. Moreover, the charge was denied by the thickness measuring company.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
On January 24, 2019, the court however declined to indict at this stage the CEO of Polaris Shipping, Kim Wan-joong, as well as three other persons who had been signaled in the Korean Coast Guard's investigation, including a KRS surveyor and two thickness measurement technicians of a private company involved in forging annual education license document pertaining to qualification of technician working for thickness measurement company.{{cite web | url=https://insurancemarinenews.com/insurance-marine-news/korean-register-clarifies-some-reports-on-stellar-daisy/ | title=Korean Register clarifies some reports on Stellar Daisy | website=Insurance Marine News | date=13 February 2019 }}
The court's judge indicated that he may reach additional conclusions after having had the opportunity to review the findings of the undersea exploration which has been recently contracted by the South Korean Government to the US ocean seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity.{{cite web|url=https://oceaninfinity.com/ocean-infinity-Stellar+Daisy|title=Ocean Infinity to support South Korean Government in search for Stellar Daisy|author=|date=December 30, 2018|website=oceaninfinity.com|accessdate=February 13, 2019|archive-date=August 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805071504/https://oceaninfinity.com/ocean-infinity-Stellar+Daisy|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
|title=Safety and Shipping Review 2018
|publisher=Allianz
|year=2018
|url=https://www.allianz.com/content/dam/onemarketing/azcom/Allianz_com/migration/media/press/document/AGCS-Safety-Shipping-Review-report-2018.pdf
}}
}}
{{2017 shipwrecks}}
Category:Ships built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Category:Ships of the Marshall Islands
Category:Maritime incidents in 2017
Category:Merchant ships of Panama
Category:Merchant ships of Liberia
Category:Merchant ships of South Korea