We are able to offer a brief update in respect of progress to date:

Recovery (including Salvage indemnity)

We have today been advised that the vessel Owners have set up a Limitation Fund in New York.
We have retained lawyers in New York to represent our clients. interests and will report further in due course. Negotiations are ongoing in relation to counter security for cargo interests.

We are actively considering any actions that may be taken in alternative jurisdictions and in this regard counter security has been obtained for all cargoes destined for Canada.

We have received the following new casualty report.
A fire broke out on the FRONT ALTAIR following an explosion.
The crew have abandoned the vessel and are understood to be safe.
At the time of the incident, the vessel was at the southern end of the Strait of Hormuz, enroute from Ruwais, UAE, to Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

We have learned of an incident involving the vessel KMTC HONGKONG, a Korea flag, 1998 built, 16,731 gt fully cellular container ship, while docked at Laem Chabang, having completed a voyage from Ho Chi Minh, after calling at Busan and Chinese ports.

We have received notification that there has been a fire onboard the above-mentioned vessel today while she was off the island of Cabrera, south of Mallorca.
The vessel was enroute from Salerno to Valencia with a significant number of cars onboard.

Please be advised Hapag Lloyd have provided an update with regard to the YANTIAN EXPRESS stating she is currently berthed at the terminal in the Bahamas.

Reloaingof all containers previously discharged ashore for inspection has now been completed. Accordingly all cargoes, whether security has been provided or not, are now on board the vessel.

Dependent on final technical approval of vessel class, arrival of spare parts and conclusion of repairs is now tentatively scheduled to depart from Freeport, Bahamas on May 15, 2019 with an ETA to Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 19, 2019.

General Average security needs to be provided in addition prior to delivery of cargo. If you have any questions regarding security please feel free to contact our office.

For PA claims, we ask insurers to provide evidence of settlement once the claim has been finalised.

Please be advised Hapag Lloyd have provided an update with regard to the YANTIAN EXPRESS stating the vessel repairs are now nearing completion and accordingly declaration of seaworthiness is expected shortly.

Dear All,

Please be advised Hapag Lloyd, ship owners, have provided an update with regard to the YANTIAN EXPRESS, stating the vessel is due to reload containers that were originally unloaded at Freeport today, 12th April 2019.

They have stated she is to sail at the end of April / May, if confirmed seaworthy, from Freeport with the remaining cargo onboard. Of course, this is entirely dependent on the vessel passing class survey.

Cargo owners who have LCL, less than container load, containers will not be able to have their goods released until all cargo owners of goods in said LCL container have issued guarantees. If any cargo owners / insurers have interests in LCL shipments the most timely approach to have goods released is to pressure their contracted carrier to issue a guarantee on behalf of the entire container.

This is all the information with which we have been provided. We shall not fail to keep you notified of any further developments.

Further to our initial Casualty Advice, W.E. Cox Claims Group have been instructed on behalf of a number of cargo interests and are in contact with General Average Adjusters who have recently advised that the Vessel is at anchorage off of China and will shortly be allowed to discharge cargo at Shanghai before proceeding to continue her voyage.

As a result of the General Average declaration, security will be required prior to arrival at destination ports in order to obtain release of sound cargoes and advance notice will be required to arrange survey of potentially damaged cargoes. W.E. Cox Claims Group are working closely with the General Average Adjuster and General Average Surveyor to fulfil the Vessel Owners requirements and minimise disruption to cargo interests.

We have learned of an incident involving the vessel GRANDE AMERICA a 1997 built 27,965gt Vehicle Carrier with container capacity which caught fire some 263 kilometres south-west of Pointe de Penmarc, France 10th March 2019.

We have learned of an incident involving the vessel E R KOBE, a Liberia flag, 2001 built, 66,058 gt fully cellular container ship, during a voyage from Port Klang, Malaysia to Hong Kong and China, having also called at Singapore and Vietnam.