LNG Tanker Hits Bulk Carrier In Gibraltar Anchorage, Investigation Underway

An LNG carrier has collided with a bulk carrier in Gibraltar’s western anchorage in the early hours of March 18, 2025.

Per reports from Gibraltar broadcaster GBC News, the LNG tanker SM Kestrel with a capacity of 174,000 cbm was maneuvering to leave the anchorage when it made contact with the anchored bulk carrier Diamond Star II, which has a capacity of 57,273-dwt.

The collision occurred around 1:00 am local time in the Bay of Gibraltar. Authorities have confirmed that the incident caused no injuries or pollution and both vessels sustained only minor damage.

However, both ships have been ordered to remain at anchor until surveyors from the Gibraltar Maritime Administration (GMA), Class, and Flag State officials complete their inspections.

Although the SM Kestrel-Diamond Star II collision was minor, it happened less than two years after the 2022 OS 35 incident, when the bulk carrier OS 35 collided with the LNG tanker Adam LNG while attempting to leave the anchorage.

The OS 35 suffered severe hull damage, took on water, and was eventually grounded to prevent sinking. The ship was declared a total loss, and its wreck removal operation took over ten months.

LNG tanker comes into contact with anchored Bulk Carrier in western anchorage https://t.co/wHDHoAhNIa

— GBC News (@GBCNewsroom) March 18, 2025

After the disaster, an investigation report recommended that pilotage be made mandatory for departing vessels. The report stated that the collision would “very likely” have been avoided if a pilot had been on board.

However, despite these findings, no such requirement has been enforced so far.

The Gibraltar government confirmed that the SM Kestrel did not have a pilot at the time of departure, which has raised concerns, especially considering that Gibraltar’s current regulations only require pilots for berthing and unberthing, not for departures.

The Environment Safety Group (ESG), a Gibraltar-based organisation, has responded to the latest collision by urging the government to take immediate action. The group stated that with modern tracking technology, authorities should have better safety measures in place to prevent such incidents.

Meanwhile, the Gibraltar Port Authority has stated that it is reviewing the situation and has reached out to specialised companies to conduct an independent Navigational Risk Assessment.

This will determine whether compulsory pilotage should be introduced for vessels departing the western anchorage.

Gibraltar located at the entrance of the Mediterranean, is a key maritime transit point. The strait sees around 60,000 vessel transits each year, and Gibraltar’s ports handle about 240 million gross tonnes of vessel calls annually.

The western anchorage is mostly busy due to bunkering operations, while the eastern anchorage is used for crew changes and provisioning.

The OS 35 report also highlighted issues with Vessel Traffic Services (VTS). The master of the vessel was not required to inform VTS of his departure plan. This meant that VTS only intervened when it noticed the ship was off course, instead of preventing the collision beforehand.

The report recommended that Gibraltar authorities not only consider mandatory pilotage but also improve communication between VTS and ships to ensure safer departures.

Reference: GBC

Source: Maritime Shipping News