SLOUG

scrapped

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Fire on tanker in Aliaga

On July 3, 2025, a major fire broke out aboard the decommissioned 'Sloug' during dismantling operations at the Simsekler Shipbreaking Yard in Aliağa . The blaze began at approximately 11:00 a.m. LT, prompting an immediate response from firefighting units. The local fire department dispatched fire trucks and six fire fighting tugs to contain the fire and cool the hull. The tugs sprayed water and foam onto the ship to control The partially dismantled tanker was evacuated without injury, but due to concerns, other parts of the yard were also evacuated as the black smoke billowed from the hulk. As a precautionary measure, operations at several nearby construction sites were suspended. Strong winds in the area have complicated firefighting efforts. Extinguishing the blaze may take several days. The tanker was converted into a floating storage unit off Libya in 1989. In 2017, it was decommissioned after being in poor condition with potential structural damage. A Turkish firm later acquired it for dismantling, but the tanker first arrived in Egypt, where environmental protests forced its departure. It finally docked in Türkiye in February 2023, where additional demonstrations followed. Environmental groups alleged the ship was used to store hazardous waste, claiming it carried up to 6,000 tons of chemical residue. Recyclers disputed these claims, insisting it was not an oil storage vessel. The environmental group has now called for an immediate investigation and demanded the suspension of all work at the site until the vessel is declared environmentally safe. Report with video: https://maritime-executive.com/article/video-fire-breakouts-on-controversial-tanker-at-turkish-scrapyard

Beached

Beached at Aliaga 24.02.23 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10160524729484605&set=pcb.10162191680193943

Three workers killed, one missing after anchor chain snapped

Three workers were killed on Dec 10, 2021, during the decommissioning of the FSO 'Sloug' off the coast of Libya. The operator Mellitah Oil & Gas had put the 'Sloug' up for bid in early 2020, offering up the vessel and any residual hydrocarbons inside of it on an as-is/where-is basis. The terms of the tender put all responsibility for disconnection and towing of the platform on the buyer, including cutoff and isolation of two 16" pipelines at the FSO's single-point mooring buoy. After a tender process and sale, a Tunisian contractor was selected to prepare the Sloug for towing. On Dec 10 workers were on board and getting the vessel ready for its removal when a chain snapped, throwing three workers over the side. They did not survive. One additional individual remained missing, and one more sustained injuries in the accident. Mellitah was now encouraging the buyer to expedite the vessel's removal. Mellitah has replaced the 'Sloug' with a new FSO, the 'Gaza', which was installed in 2017.