Posted by A sister ship of the SS El Faro, the 46-year-old SS Matsonia, suffered a hull crack and began leaking oil, reports gCaptain, the news web site covering maritime affairs and business.
The leak raises questions, says gCaptain, as to just how serious the Coast Guard effort is to crack down on unsafe ships in the wake of the sinking of the El Faro in 2015.
The Coast Guard also has yet to issue civil actions against the owner of the SS El Faro as recommended more than a year ago by a US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation.
The fault in the Mastonia — a ship now more than twice the 20-year-life span most ships are expected to live — raises anew the shape of the fleet carrying cargoes from one port in America to another, as well as the American-flagged ships serving the military for sealift purposes.
Several military reports have noted that the merchant marine fleet supporting the military is in bad shape with poor upkeep and fitness. The military support fleet has an average age of 46-years.