The Zhenbao Seafood Boat was towed away from Hong Kong last Tuesday (14th) and handed over to an ocean-going tugboat near Luzhou, Lamma Island, until it sank in waters near the Paracel Islands on Saturday (18th).
The owner, Aberdeen Catering Group, has not disclosed the information on the ocean-going tugboat, and reiterated that it will not explain the original destination.
The investigation of "Hong Kong 01" found that the ocean-going tugboat should be "Jaewon 9" (transliterated "Zaiyuan 9"), and its original destination was Cambodia. On Sunday (19th), it suddenly wandered outside the Paracel Islands in a jagged shape sail.
The Hong Kong agent of the ocean-going tugboat refused to respond to reporters' inquiries, and the owner did not reply before the deadline.
The Marine Department confirmed that the destination of the seafood boat is also Cambodia, and will require the shipowner to submit a report and follow up the investigation.
According to the Marine Traffic vessel navigation website, the tugboat "Jaewon 9" was in the waters near the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter and Lamma Island on June 14, and reached the waters near the Paracel Islands on the evening of the 18th, but suddenly turned around on the 19th and continued to hover.
(01 Drawing)
Hong Kong Tugboat Company: Handover in Hong Kong Waters
The two tugboats "Run Fu" and "Run Wei" towed the Jumbo Seafood Ship from Hong Kong last Tuesday (14th), and then handed it over to the ocean-going tugboat for maintenance.
After the ocean-going tugboat finally sailed to the Paracel Islands on the 18th, the seafood boat overturned and sank the next day.
However, the owner, Aberdeen Catering Group, has not explained the maintenance location and details of the ocean-going tugboat.
Win Profit Marine, which owns Hong Kong tugboats, said in an interview with Hong Kong 01 earlier that the ocean-going tugboats and ocean-going tugboats are in Hong Kong waters, near Luzhou and Lamma Island to deliver seafood boats: "Our ships cannot go abroad. ".
After checking the vessel departure records of the Marine Department, only one South Korean-registered tugboat "Jaewon 9" (transliterated "Zaiyuan 9") left Hong Kong for three consecutive days (ie, 14th to 16th) after the seafood boat was towed away from Hong Kong. It is believed that it is the boat that towed the seafood boat.
(lgoreshka86/Marine Traffic)
Only one tugboat was recorded by the Marine Department for three days before and after departure from Hong Kong
"Hong Kong 01" checked the marine department's vessel departure records and found that there was only one Korean-registered tugboat "Jaewon 9" (transliterated "Zaiyuan 9") for three consecutive days (ie, 14th to 16th) after the seafood boat was towed away from Hong Kong. ) left the port, I believe it was the ship that towed the seafood boat.
The reporter continued to search Marine Traffic's ship voyage record website. "Zai Yuen 9" arrived in Hong Kong on the 13th, appeared near the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter and the waters around Lamma Island on the morning of the 14th, and left Hong Kong waters at 5 pm. Sail southwest to Cambodia.
Unusual wandering from the 18th to the next day in the Paracel Islands
As of the evening of the 18th, the navigation record network showed that the tugboat reached the waters near the Paracel Islands, but suddenly turned around on the 19th and continued to wander, showing irregular sailing, and the record was in a zigzag shape.
The South Korean tugboat's voyage record is consistent with the time and location of the sinking announced by the owner.
The Hong Kong agent of "Jaewon 9" is Wuhang Asia Limited.
"Hong Kong 01" once went to the company for inquiries, but after the staff learned the identity of the reporter, they repeatedly said that they would not accept the interview and did not respond to any questions. They even refused to accept written inquiries on the spot and asked the reporter to leave.
The reporter also asked the owner of the boat for details of the tugboat involved, but no reply was received by the time of writing.
The staff of Wuhang Asia, the Hong Kong agent of "Zai Yuan No. 9", declined to respond to reporters' questions.
(Photo by Hong Kong 01 reporter)
Penghu ran aground last year
"Jaewon 9" was towed from Hong Kong to an offshore work platform in December last year. On the way back to South Korea, the cable was broken and ran aground in the waters of Penghu, Taiwan.
On December 13, 2021, the South Korean work platform vessel Dong Ji 2 was towed by a Jaewon 9 tugboat on its way back to South Korea. It ran aground in the eastern waters of Wang'an Jiangjunyu, Penghu, in the early morning due to severe wind and waves.
(Photo of Taiwan's Seventh Coast Guard Team)
The Marine Department considers the destination to be Cambodia
The Marine Department replied that the owner of the Jumbo Seafood Boat applied for a port clearance permit to the prescription on June 13 to tow the seafood boat from Hong Kong waters to Cambodia.
Before applying for a port permit, the ship owner has hired a survey agency to conduct relevant inspections to ensure that the seafood boat is suitable for being towed from Hong Kong to its destination.
However, the prescription did not confirm the name of the ocean-going tugboat.
The Marine Department stated that the prescription was not notified before the ship owner announced the news of the sinking of the seafood boat.
After the prescription became aware of the report, it immediately requested the shipowner to submit a written report and would follow up the investigation.
▼On June 14, Aberdeen Jumbo Seafood Restaurant moved out of Hong Kong▼
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