The Cement Carrier “Ocean Sparkle” Has Been Docked in Algeciras for Over a Year

For just over a year, the cement carrier “Ocean Sparkle,” flagged in Indonesia, has been immobilized at the port of Algeciras. Previously, it had been anchored for two weeks in the waters of Málaga, but upon its arrival at the Algeciras port on March 23, 2016, a complaint was received at the Maritime Captaincy, as the crew was owed between eight and ten months of wages, amounting to around half a million euros.

Technicians from the Maritime Captaincy inspected the ship and found various deficiencies and some requests for seizure, leading to its docking at the Isla Verde dry dock for safety reasons, as strong easterly storms are common during that time. At that point, eight Indonesian crew members had been repatriated, but 26 others from different nationalities remained on board.

What is remarkable about this ship is that it was built from the beginning as a cement carrier and has a central bridge with machinery and accommodation at the stern, similar to oil tankers and some bulk carriers and freighters from a bygone era of shipbuilding. Construction number 255 from the Kasado Dock Co. Ltd. shipyard, located in Kudamatsub (Japan), it entered service in 1969 under the name “Nakaoki Maru” and the company Ibe Kosan K.K. It was sold in March 1993 and renamed “Liyan.” It was sold again in January 2003 and renamed “Bulk Arrow,” and then sold in July 2014 and renamed “Ocean Sparkle” (Bosowa Lloyd).

It is a ship of 13,951 gross tons, 5,975 net tons, and 21,218 deadweight tons, measuring 161 m in overall length - 152.51 m between perpendiculars - 24.41 m in beam, 13.31 m in depth, and 9.37 m in maximum draft. It can carry 16,529 cubic meters and is powered by a diesel engine with a power of 12,150 horsepower, capable of a speed of 16 knots when new. IMO Code 6916201.

Photos: Juan Gabriel Mata (J&N)