Incident: Collision
Vessels Involved: M/V Northern Democrat & M/V MOL Empire.
Location: Westport Harbor at Port Klang in Malaysia.
Casualties: None
M/V Northern Democrat – a 3500 TEU, Liberian-flagged box ship collided with MOL Empire – a 5,100 TEU Hong-Kong flagged vessel. Three of the containers being transported by the Northern Democrat fell overboard. The accident was due to higher speed and strong winds, which caused the ship to drift and collide with the MOL Empire. It was also reported that a shore crane was also damaged. There was no structural damage to either of the vessels reported as this would have proven the vessel to be unfit for sea service.