Bringing No Comfort

“Nothing to see hear, folks. Move right along.”

When you hear or see those words you know that something amiss is being covered up. Let’s just call this “The Saga of The MOL Comfort.” Here’s a recap.

– “The MV MOL Comfort cracked in half about 200 miles from the Yemen coast while enroute from Singapore to Jeddah with about 4,500 containers.”

– “From Marine Log Daily News (June 24, 2013) – The cargo-laden of the doomed 8,000-TEU MOL Comfort that split in two in the storm on June 17 is rolling in a storm and losing containers from the deck into the Arabian Sea.”

– “MOL Comfort slips its tow wire – Tugs battle poor weather to recover broken boxship’s fore section.”

– “Front end of MOL Comfort catches fire while under tow in Arabian Sea – Fire broke out from the rear end of the front section of the 8,000-TEU MOL Comfort that was under tow after it split in two on June 17, said the Tokyo-based Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).

“‘The fire is not under control due to adverse weather,’ said the sparse MOL statement. The after section sunk with all containers aboard after wallowing adrift in heavy swells in the Indian Ocean. A patrol boat remains on station to identify the area where it sank …”

– “Fire consumes weather deck boxes on MOL Comfort, fate of hold unknown Fire aboard the detached front end of the 8,000-TEU MOL Comfort has consumed containers on the weather deck and continues to burn out of control on Wednesday despite fire fighting ships efforts to combat the blaze …

“‘Due to adverse weather, work has not been progressing smoothly,’ said the company, just before the forward section of the MOL Comfort sank.”

– “MOL Comfort oil slick disperses. Partner OOCL announces total loss – The thin oil slick reported in the area where the forward section of the 8,000-TEU MOL Comfort sank off the Yemen-Omani coast has dispersed and ‘most’ of the floating containers have gone to the bottom … Some 1,600 tonnes of bunker fuel and other oils sank with the forward end of the ship while fire blazed when under tow in the Arabian Sea. ‘About 2,400 containers on board the fore part of the vessel sank together, while some have been confirmed floating near the site,’ said MOL.” –

[What? No pollution? Where are the “alarmists”? Nothing to see here, folks. Move right along.]