“INCHON PIONEER” / “EVER GUIDE “ collision

At about 01:32 hours on October 31, 1989, the bow of the motor container ship “EVER GUIDE” (37,042 GRT, Panamanian flag, manned by Taiwanese crew of 16 all told), laden with approximately 11,811 tons of containerized cargoes and on her way from Osaka to Kaohsiung, came into collision with the starboard quarter of the motor chemical tanker “INCHON PIONEER” (510 GRT, Korean flag, manned by Korean crew of 13 all told), laden with 596.455 tons of Isopropyl Alcohol and on her way from Yokohama to Oita, off Muroto Saki, Japan.
An extra newspaper “The Kochi” was issued on October 31, 1989 by Kochi newspaper company, titled
“Korean tanker capsized, 9 crewmembers missing”
“Collision with Panamanian container ship off Muroto Saki”


Photo.1


Photo.2
As a result of the collision, the whole hull of the “INCHON PIONEER” was turned over to port and was split into two at about middle of the hull. Aft part of the vessel was immediately sank into the sea, while fore part drifted in an upside-down state, and 9 crew members were missing.
Photo 1 &2 show fore part of m.v. “INCHON PIONEER” drifting showing her bottom above the water.



Photo.3

 Photo 3 shows the motor container “EVER GUIDE” after the collision with “INCHON PIONEER”. She suffered a hold (3,500mm×240mm max.) on her starboard bow at under-water level although the m.v. “INCHON PIONEER” was destroyed by the collision.


Photo4

 Photo 4 shows an operation by the special rescue party of the Maritime Safety Agency.
Bottom plate of the capsized but floating m.v. “INCHON PIONEER”’s bow above the water was hammered in an attempt to sound out presence of any survivors entrapped in the vessel, but in vain.
Fujii Toda & Tsuchida were retained by the Shipowners, Hull and PI underwriters of the m.v. “INCHON PIONEER”.
The matter was later settled out of court.