Chapter 44
Singapore, Central Business District, South East Asian Institute of Strategic Threats
November 13, 2006, 02:15 local time
Dr. Kunderan found a second pair of high-powered binoculars for Charles to use. Both men sat in front of the large window in Dr. Kunderan's office that overlooked the Strait. They watched in silence, the Hanjin Sun's progress up the narrow Philip Channel between the Singapore Islands to the north and the islands of the Riau Archipelago to the south.
As the LNG carrier approached the oil refinery on Bukom Island, Dr. Kunderan found he was tightly clenching his binoculars. A LNG carrier plowing into the storage tanks on the island was a scenario that no one had seriously considered. All it would take was a couple of turns of the ship's wheel and three minutes later, the huge ship would hit the seawall around the island. Even at the relatively slow speed of twelve knots, its kinetic energy would drive the ship far enough onshore to strike several of the storage tanks, releasing hundred of thousands of gallons of refined products. It would certainly collapse the front of the LNG carrier and release millions of cubic meters of natural gas. No one had any experience of what would result from such a combination.
The LNG carrier remained in the eastbound shipping channel, as it came level with the oil refinery. Dr. Kunderan felt himself relax slightly, when it became clear the LNG carrier would continue on past the Bukom Island refinery.
The LNG Carrier was about to leave the narrow Philip channel and enter the relatively open waters in front of the city of Singapore. Dr. Kunderan watched the LNG carrier begin to turn onto a more northerly heading that would take it past the main container port and business district and directly toward the tankers in the Singapore Roads. The tankers were six kilometers ahead, less than twenty minutes away at the LNG carrier's current speed.
Dr. Kunderan said to Charles, “The LNG carrier is turning north, out of Indonesian waters and into Singaporean waters. At least now, we can take action to stop it without risking a confrontation with Indonesia.”
Charles had kept silent, because as a guest at the Institute, he didn't want to distract Dr. Kunderan from his responsibilities in the crisis. However, Dr. Kunderan's phone hadn't rung or anyone entered his office for the last twenty minutes. He sensed that now events were unfolding largely as Dr. Kunderan had predicted they would, his role was substantially over.
Charles asked, “What actions do you think the Singaporean authorities will take?”
“I expect a military assault on the LNG carrier, but I don't know if there is time before it reaches the tankers in the Roads.”
Dr. Kunderan focused his binoculars back on the Roads and saw the tugs deploying to protect the tankers. They were following his plan. The six tugs formed a line more-or-less north-south in front of the tankers. The tugs were about two hundred meters apart, facing away from the tankers and toward the oncoming LNG carrier.
He periodically turned his binoculars on the Hanjin Sun as it drew closer. It was heading directly toward the middle of the Roads and if not stopped could collide with four or five of the tankers just by continuing on its current course.
The Hanjin Sun was now only two kilometers away from the line of tugs, and in response, they started to maneuver. The two tugs at the northern end of the line headed directly toward the LPG carrier. When the tugs were a hundred meters away, they turned into the side of the huge ship, close to its bow. In quick succession, both struck the side of the huge ship and stuck there, as if suddenly attached.
Even at the distance Dr. Kunderan was watching from, he could see the white foam surging out from behind both tugs indicating their engines were at full throttle. He could see that the huge ship was slowly turning, and rather than following its previous straight-line course into the middle of the tankers, it was now on a southward curving course.
Dr. Kunderan tried to visualize the LNG carrier's path as the two tugs continued to push the ship. He could see its wake now curved noticeably. Although, it still looked like the LNG carrier would go through the southern end of the Roads and hit one or more of the tankers. Another tug joined the effort to push the ship away.
The LNG carrier was now just two hundred meters from the nearest tanker and the effort of the tugs hadn't been enough. It was going to hit the southernmost of the tankers.
Dr. Kunderan watched the three tugs veer away from the LNG carrier just before it collided with the tanker. The LNG carrier struck two thirds of the way down the tanker's length. The impact of the massive ship visibly pushed the much smaller tanker downward and to the side.
The tanker's side burst into flames and then burned fiercely. The tanker's burning contents flowed out of the gash in its side and the flames spread across the surface of the ocean. At this distance, the ships looked like toys, but Dr. Kunderan knew the collision would have ripped a huge hole in the tanker, but would have done little more than dent the bow of the double-hulled LNG carrier.
Chapter 45
November 13, 2006, 02:15 local time
Dr. Kunderan found a second pair of high-powered binoculars for Charles to use. Both men sat in front of the large window in Dr. Kunderan's office that overlooked the Strait. They watched in silence, the Hanjin Sun's progress up the narrow Philip Channel between the Singapore Islands to the north and the islands of the Riau Archipelago to the south.
As the LNG carrier approached the oil refinery on Bukom Island, Dr. Kunderan found he was tightly clenching his binoculars. A LNG carrier plowing into the storage tanks on the island was a scenario that no one had seriously considered. All it would take was a couple of turns of the ship's wheel and three minutes later, the huge ship would hit the seawall around the island. Even at the relatively slow speed of twelve knots, its kinetic energy would drive the ship far enough onshore to strike several of the storage tanks, releasing hundred of thousands of gallons of refined products. It would certainly collapse the front of the LNG carrier and release millions of cubic meters of natural gas. No one had any experience of what would result from such a combination.
The LNG carrier remained in the eastbound shipping channel, as it came level with the oil refinery. Dr. Kunderan felt himself relax slightly, when it became clear the LNG carrier would continue on past the Bukom Island refinery.
The LNG Carrier was about to leave the narrow Philip channel and enter the relatively open waters in front of the city of Singapore. Dr. Kunderan watched the LNG carrier begin to turn onto a more northerly heading that would take it past the main container port and business district and directly toward the tankers in the Singapore Roads. The tankers were six kilometers ahead, less than twenty minutes away at the LNG carrier's current speed.
Dr. Kunderan said to Charles, “The LNG carrier is turning north, out of Indonesian waters and into Singaporean waters. At least now, we can take action to stop it without risking a confrontation with Indonesia.”
Charles had kept silent, because as a guest at the Institute, he didn't want to distract Dr. Kunderan from his responsibilities in the crisis. However, Dr. Kunderan's phone hadn't rung or anyone entered his office for the last twenty minutes. He sensed that now events were unfolding largely as Dr. Kunderan had predicted they would, his role was substantially over.
Charles asked, “What actions do you think the Singaporean authorities will take?”
“I expect a military assault on the LNG carrier, but I don't know if there is time before it reaches the tankers in the Roads.”
Dr. Kunderan focused his binoculars back on the Roads and saw the tugs deploying to protect the tankers. They were following his plan. The six tugs formed a line more-or-less north-south in front of the tankers. The tugs were about two hundred meters apart, facing away from the tankers and toward the oncoming LNG carrier.
He periodically turned his binoculars on the Hanjin Sun as it drew closer. It was heading directly toward the middle of the Roads and if not stopped could collide with four or five of the tankers just by continuing on its current course.
The Hanjin Sun was now only two kilometers away from the line of tugs, and in response, they started to maneuver. The two tugs at the northern end of the line headed directly toward the LPG carrier. When the tugs were a hundred meters away, they turned into the side of the huge ship, close to its bow. In quick succession, both struck the side of the huge ship and stuck there, as if suddenly attached.
Even at the distance Dr. Kunderan was watching from, he could see the white foam surging out from behind both tugs indicating their engines were at full throttle. He could see that the huge ship was slowly turning, and rather than following its previous straight-line course into the middle of the tankers, it was now on a southward curving course.
Dr. Kunderan tried to visualize the LNG carrier's path as the two tugs continued to push the ship. He could see its wake now curved noticeably. Although, it still looked like the LNG carrier would go through the southern end of the Roads and hit one or more of the tankers. Another tug joined the effort to push the ship away.
The LNG carrier was now just two hundred meters from the nearest tanker and the effort of the tugs hadn't been enough. It was going to hit the southernmost of the tankers.
Dr. Kunderan watched the three tugs veer away from the LNG carrier just before it collided with the tanker. The LNG carrier struck two thirds of the way down the tanker's length. The impact of the massive ship visibly pushed the much smaller tanker downward and to the side.
The tanker's side burst into flames and then burned fiercely. The tanker's burning contents flowed out of the gash in its side and the flames spread across the surface of the ocean. At this distance, the ships looked like toys, but Dr. Kunderan knew the collision would have ripped a huge hole in the tanker, but would have done little more than dent the bow of the double-hulled LNG carrier.
Chapter 45
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