USCG, Multiple Vessels Responding to ‘Significant’ Fire on Vehicle Carrier in Pacific Ocean; Master Reported Intent to Abandon Ship




Photo shared to gCaptain’s social media by Chelsea Martin

The U.S. Coast Guard and several commercial vessels are responding to a reported ‘significant’ vessel fire on the vehicle carrier Sincerity Ace approximately 1,800 nautical miles northwest of Oahu in high seas, Monday.
At least one commercial vessel, the Green Lake, is on scene and assessing possible assistance and rescue options, with three additional commercial vessels and a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew en route, according to the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) in Honolulu received notification from JRCC Japan at 1:04 a.m. of the situation. Watchstanders in Honolulu immediately issued a SafetyNet broadcast requesting the assistance of vessels in the area and directed the launch of the Hercules from Air Station Barbers Point.
The master of the Sincerity Ace reported a significant vessel fire, with ongoing firefighting efforts and an intent to abandon ship, the Coast Guard said.
The crew was able to launch one of the life rafts, and four of the 21 mariners abandoned ship with lifejackets, according to the Coast Guard. It is unconfirmed if they reached the life raft upon entering the water. The remaining 17 crew are reportedly continuing to fight the fire.
Weather was reported as 17-foot seas with winds at 26 mph.
“The distance involved here requires any and all available support, we thank the crews of the commercial vessels for volunteering to assist and have Coast Guard air support en route,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Les Elliott of JRCC Honolulu
“We are thankful no injuries have been reported but are cognizant a lot is happening, and that may change at any time,” said Elliott.
The 650-foot (199-meter) Sincerity Ace is a Panamanian-flagged car carrier and was on a voyage from Yokohama, Japan to Honolulu, Hawaii. The ship was built in 2009 and has capacity of 6,400 vehicles. It is managed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).
Of the responding commercial vessels, the Green Lake is a 655-foot U.S.-flagged car carrier traveling from Japan to the U.S. mainland. The second vessel is a Panamanian-flagged LNG tanker, the 968-foot SM Eagle on a voyage from the U.S. mainland to Korea. Two additional vessels, a car carrier, and a tanker were also en route.
The Coast Guard said it was also launching a second Hercules from Air Station Barbers Point. Both aircraft are equipped with self locating datum marker buoys to track positions and additional search and rescue equipment such as life rafts and survival gear that can be dropped to survivors.
In addition to the Coast Guard aircraft, the U.S. Navy was expected to be providing a fixed wing aircraft to assist in search efforts.

SINCERITY_ACE
MV Sincerity Ace. File Photo: MarineTraffic.com / Rainer Petzold

The Coast Guard reported that the responding commercial vessels are part of AMVER, or the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System, a worldwide voluntary reporting system sponsored by the United States Coast Guard. It is a computer-based global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates… 



Car carrier major fire, Pacific

Fire erupted on board of a car carrier SINCERITY ACE in the evening Dec 31 in the Pacific, halfway between Japan and Hawaii. The ship was disabled and started to drift in vicinity 27N 170E, situation unclear – four crew reportedly tried to abandoned the ship on a life raft, remaining 17 stayed on board and continue fighting fire. USCG and nearby ships are on alert, car carrier GREEN LAKE (IMO 9158288) and LNG tanker SM Eagle (IMO 9761827) on the scene, apparently engaged in salvage. At least three other ships are approaching distressed SINCERITY ACE.
USCG report:
The Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) in Honolulu received notification from JRCC Japan at 1:04 a.m. of the situation. Watchstanders in Honolulu immediately issued a SafetyNet broadcast requesting the assistance of vessels in the area and directed the launch of the Hercules from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point. Two additional vessels, a car carrier, and a tanker are en route. The Coast Guard is also launching a second Hercules from Air Station Barbers Point.
Car carrier SINCERITY ACE, IMO 9519092, GT 59408, built 2009, flag Panama, manager SHOEI KISEN KAISHA LTD.

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My name is Nikolay Torkin, I’m Merchant Marine Master, presently in command of feeder container ship trading in South East Asia. My family lives in Prague, Czech Republic. Mikhail provides me with daily accidents reports, I send him information with regards to accidents and container ships.

Maritime and Crimean Shipping News



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