Car Carrier Continues Journey after Grounding off Colombia

Shipspotting A 200-meter car carrier, which ran aground near the port of Buenaventura, Colombia, yesterday morning, has been refloated during high tide after being aground for some seven hours, the local news media reported. The Bahamas-flagged Platinum Ray, operated by Greece’s Stamco Ship Management, left the fairway and grounded into a mud shallow in Buenaventura Bay, less than a mile off the coast. Initial reports showed that a navigational error led to the grounding. The authorities dispatched two tugs to assist in the refloating during high tide, and the 2000-built car carrier was reported as heading to port in the afternoon. There were no reports of injuries to the crew and no reports of water pollution in the area. The 21,400 dwt vessel, which was carrying a cargo of some 500 vehicles, did not sustain any damages and its latest AIS data shows that it departed Buenaventura late last night and is heading to Esmeraldas, Ecuador. Relevant officials were scheduled to conduct an investigation into the incident. World Maritime News Staff; Image Courtesy: Shipspotting