Panama-flagged cargo ship refloated off Hualien without oil spill

Hualien, Jan. 4 (CNA) A Panama-flagged bulk carrier that ran aground off Hualien County on New Year's Day was successfully refloated on Saturday and towed into Hualien Port, with no oil pollution detected, authorities said Sunday.

After passing hull inspections, the vessel, CSE Prosperity Express, was refloated by two tugboats under coast guard escort and safely berthed at Wharf No. 22 at around 8 p.m., the Maritime Port Bureau said.

No oil leakage was observed during or after the operation, despite the ship carrying more than 200 metric tons of residual fuel.

The carrier, operated by Taiwan's China Steel Express Corp., lost main engine power Thursday morning while approaching Hualien Port and was later pushed onto a sandbank by strong northeasterly winds.

All 17 crew members - five Filipinos and 12 Taiwanese - were reported safe. Rescue efforts were initially delayed by rough seas, and one tugboat crew member suffered a head injury during earlier assistance operations.