THE laden 126,538 cu m LNG carrier Suez Matthew broke down off Boston just before midnight on Saturday. It lost main engine power for about only an hour but reports says its was nine hours before the ship had tested its propulsion system and started to proceed to an anchorage in Broad Sound, accompanied by the US Coast Guard Cutter Jefferson Island and two commercial tugs. The Norwegian-ship, built in 1979 and originally part of the El Paso fleet, is owned by Tractebel LNG Trading and operated by Höegh LNG. The Equasis database shows that the vessel has been inspected by the US Coast guard a remarkable number of times, with 15 noted in 2008, but there are only a few deficiencies noted and the ship has never been detained.
The latest incident is the second similar one this year. In February the LNG carrier Catalunya Spirit broke down and had to be towed to a safe anchorage for engine repairs.