Dutch container vessel suffers steering loss in N. Sea

The 1,436TEU, 2011 built, container ship Escape operated by the Dutch carrier JR Shipping, based in Harlingen, The Netherlands, suffered a rudder failure just north of the Maasvlakte, in Rotterdam Port on 7 April.

The vessel had departed Rotterdam with a cargo of 724TEU and was heading for Helsinki in Finland when the ship’s steering gear failed, off Vlieland Island, the Netherlands.

JR Shipping CEO, Jan Reier Arends, confirmed to Container News that the vessel had suffered difficulties. “The vessel had rudder problems and we were no longer able to handle the ship,” said Arends, adding, “A Dutch Coast Guard vessel helped to salvage the Escape, towing it back to Rotterdam. An investigation into the damage has started.”

The next step will be to investigate the damage and to see what repairs will need to be completed.

“We will decide on what happens to the cargo after the investigation, it depends on what the damage is, and whether the vessel needs extensive repairs, we will take a decision after the technical people have inspected the ship,” noted Arends.

Salvage security may be demanded from a UK source, according to claims consultancy WK Webster.