KING PLUS

scrapped

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

‘Zombie vessel’ turns up at Chinese ports, posing as retired ship

The 'EM Longetivity', reported to be scrapped three years ago, took on the identity of an actual ship that is no longer in service in an attempt to evade economic sanctions. The ship decommissioned in December 2021. At the time, the ship was reportedly sent to a scrapyard. Aship with the same IMO as the tanker appeared at a port in Dalian on Sep. 23, 2024, where it partially unloaded its cargo before sailing across the Yellow Sea. On Sep 30, the ship docked at the port city of Yantai. While there is the possibility that the 'EM Longevity' was retrieved from the scrapyard where it was left several years ago, experts of the University of Copenhagen’s Ocean Infrastructure Research Group estimated it like a vessel that’s signaling that it’s legitimate just so that it can sail under the radar. There were other concerning signs that indicated the vessel was posing as the retired ship. Specifically, data compiled by VesselTracker found that the ship sails under the flag of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland. During its 20 years of service, the 'EM Longevity' had sailed under the Singaporean flag. The IMO registration number for the 'EM Longevity' reportedly does not list a current manager, owner, or insurer. These patterns are eerily similar to those used in the “dark fleet". Russia has been accused of using a massive shadow fleet, filled with these vessels to get around European Union sanctions amid the yearslong war in Ukraine. Reports indicated that China has been importing crude from such dark fleets as it remains the world’s largest importer of oil. While the United States has issued sanctions on crude exports from nations like Russia and Iran, China has remained a consistent customer. Identified dark ships have been known to travel to and from Iran in recent months. Similarly, the ship appearing to pose as the 'EM Longevity' also sailed in waters near Iran around Aug. 11 before making its way to China.

One diver dead, one missiing, during underwater inspection

An industrial diver died and another remained missing while conducting an underwater inspection of the 'EM Longevity' at the José Antonio Anzoátegui (Jose) Petrochemical Complex on March 4, 2023, at 8.45 p.m. The accident happened 3,5 nautical miles north of Cryogenic Jose, during an underwater anti-drug inspection. The Bolivarian National Guard and the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA) have launched an SAR operation. Jackson Antonio Meza García (43) was the diver found. In turn, the search agencies are trying to locate Liam Jhon Marcano Rivas (43), a marine firefighter from the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA). The divers worked for the company Squalo Services, C.A.

Beached

Beached at Chittagong as Bag Meur 22.12.21