🚢 Grounded oil tanker awaits inspection before returning to sea

The Sea Elephant, an oil tanker that ran aground while delivering diesel to Cayman Brac on 6th July, is currently anchored off the coast of Grand Cayman. The Department of Environment and Cayman Islands Coast Guard stated that the vessel had undergone temporary repairs to its damaged hull. It has since moved to an anchorage point that provides protection, allowing any further necessary work to be completed before the ship is cleared to return to international waters.🛠️

Marine Surveyors from the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands have indicated that additional inspections are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the temporary repairs and to ascertain if further repair work is required. Once these repairs are completed, a MACI inspector will assess them. If deemed seaworthy for international voyage, the Sea Elephant will be authorized to leave Cayman waters to undergo permanent repairs at a location chosen by its owners. Despite the grounding, no fuel or oils were released into the sea, and an investigation into the incident is currently underway by the Department of Environment, Cayman Islands Coast Guard, and MACI.🔍