MOL Comfort analysis ‘proceeding rapidly’

   Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK ), the Japanese classification society, said Wednesday that its analysis of the break-up and subsequent sinking of the containership MOL Comfort “is proceeding rapidly, and ClassNK expects to consolidate its preliminary findings by early September 2013.”
   “Based on the current findings of the ongoing investigation and analysis, the ClassNK Casualty Investigation Team has determined that the damage leading to the loss of the MOL Comfort did not originate from the vessel’s upper deck area or hatch side coaming,” it said.
   It noted that “as a preventative safety measure, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines have developed plans to further increase the hull strength of the MOL Comfort’s sister vessels. These plans have been approved by ClassNK and MOL said earlier this week that three of the six sister ships have already been strengthened.” – Chris Dupin