Updated at 11:15 a.m., Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Cargo ship repaired in Islands headed back to China
Advertiser Staff
A damaged Chinese cargo ship that berthed in late January in a protected state harbor has been repaired and last weekend departed Barbers Point-Kalaeloa Harbor en route to China on Saturday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.Initially, confusion over translation of documents led officials to believe that the Tong Cheng was carrying an unspecified type of ammunition in addition to general cargo of plywood and steel. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials later announced there was no ammunition cargo on board.
Repairs were made to a crack in the vessel's hull and Coast Guard marine inspectors conducted consistent oversight of the repairs. All cargo and debris was reloaded for the vessel's return to China.
The 485-foot cargo vessel entered Barbers Point-Kalaeloa Jan. 26 after suffering damage to the hull in heavy weather in late December. The Tong Cheng remained offshore for several days while plans were finalized to bring the vessel safely into port.
A Unified Command comprising the Coast Guard Captain of the Port and representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the State of Hawai'i and Tong Cheng's owners worked together in coordinating the repairs and cargo operations to ensure the safety of the vessel, its crew and the port.
"This is an excellent example of cooperation, not only between the governments of the People's Republic of China and the United States, but between federal, state, local and industry partners as well," Capt. Vince Atkins, Captain of the Port of Honolulu, said in a news release.
