HOMAO

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Abandoned cargo ship drifted aground

On Dec 27, 2021, the 'Homao' ran aground on a reef in the Penghu Islands, after the crew abandoned the ship off the coast of northern Taiwan on Dec 24. It had lost power due to flooding and issued a distress signal at approximately 8 a.m. 52 nautical miles from Keelung. The crew of nine abandoned ship a short time later. In the evening of the same day, the shipowner dispatched the tug 'Salvage Champion' from Kaohsiung Port to tow the ship to safety. However, heavy seas, and high winds generated by the northeast monsoon hampered attempts to get the vessel under control. The tug approached the 'Homao' about 5,4 nautical miles off the coast of Hsinchu County but abandoned attempts to board the ship in winds of up to 11 Beaufort and swells of 5 to 6 meters. On Dec 27 at 8:36 p.m. the ship was grounded on a reef near Xianjiao Islet. it had 20 tons of diesel oil and 200 liters of lubricating oil on board.