Major Collision Off Karachi: Cable-Laying Vessel Niwa Suffers Severe Hull Damage After Impact with Container Ship
A serious maritime accident occurred during the night of May 28 near the Port of Karachi, involving the UAE-flagged cable-laying vessel Niwa and the Liberia-flagged container ship Papu. The collision caused extensive damage to one of the vessels and resulted in a container being lost overboard.
The incident took place near the anchorage area outside Pakistan’s busiest port. At the time of the accident, Niwa was approaching Karachi from Salalah, Oman, while Papu was en route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Cable-Laying Vessel Sustains Significant Damage
The most severe damage was suffered by Niwa, which sustained a large hull breach and major structural damage following the impact.
Images from the scene show extensive deformation of the vessel’s bow section and serious damage to the surrounding hull structure.
According to preliminary reports:
- No injuries were reported among crew members;
- No pollution has been reported;
- The container ship Papu suffered only minor damage;
- One container fell overboard during the collision.
Damaged Vessel Escorted to Port
Following the accident, port tugboats and emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene.
The damaged Niwa was safely escorted to a berth in Karachi for technical inspections and damage assessment.
Meanwhile, Papu was instructed to remain at anchorage until authorities completed initial inspections and gathered information related to the incident.
Authorities Investigating Possible Human Error
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, stated that preliminary findings may indicate possible negligence on the part of the masters of both vessels.
Investigators are currently reviewing:
- Navigation data and vessel tracking records;
- Communications between the ships;
- Traffic conditions prior to the collision;
- Compliance with international collision avoidance regulations.
Authorities are also assessing the extent of the damage and evaluating any potential environmental impact.
Port Operations Continue Normally
Despite the seriousness of the incident, operations at the Port of Karachi have continued without major disruption.
Maritime authorities and investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the collision and whether human factors played a significant role in the accident.
The cable-laying vessel Niwa is now awaiting a detailed survey to assess repair requirements and determine the full extent of the structural damage sustained during the collision.
