TELCHAC PUERTO, Yucatan – Despite a denial from its owner that anything is amiss, a large oil-tanker ship has been stranded off the coast of Yucatan for more than 10 days.
The vessel, Eagle Kuching, was believed to be among a flotilla of more than 20 oil tankers caught up in a geo-political showdown between the United States and Venezuela over oil exports from the South American nation.
Whether the Eagle Kuching is possibly in distress or if its crew could be faced with any difficulties in obtaining supplies and provisions is a deepening mystery.
Multiple attempts by email and telephone by MID-POINT/Punto Medio to obtain comment and explanation from the Eagle Kuching’s owner and Yucatan port and maritime officials have been rebuffed.
PHOTO: VesselFinder.com
The only comment issued by the vessel’s owner, Malaysian multi-national shipping conglomerate AET Inc. Ltd, came three days after the inquiry through AET’s London, UK-based public relations firm, Navigate PR.
In a delayed response to a MID-POINT email about the status of the Eagle Kuching, Navigate PR director Mike Elsom replied:
“I’m afraid all the company will say at this point is:
“It is not AET’s policy to comment on the commercial aspects of our business. We continue to monitor the situation and conduct our business in full compliance with all applicable statutes, regulations and legitimate governmental mandates.”
Meanwhile, Yucatan port and maritime officials have repeatedly refused to comment on the Eagle Kuching situation.
Photo: Planet via TankerTrackers.com
MID-POINT/Punto Medio also has made multiple attempts to obtain access to marine radio communication equipment that might be used to contact the vessel.
Both the Captaincy of the Port of Progreso, Yucatan and the Office of Marine Control at the port refused to allow two reporters to use their marine radios for this purpose.
International vessel tracking services monitoring the Eagle Kuching place it approximately 60 miles from Yucatan’s northern coast. The closest port would be Telchac Puerto, Yucatan. The closest port with facilities that might be able to accommodate a vessel of this size would be Progreso.
According to satellite tracking data from VesselFinder.com, the Eagle Kuching has remained virtually stationary at this location for more than 10 days.
VesselFinder.com reports that the Eagle Kuching has disclosed a stated destination of Pascagoula, Mississippi with an estimated arrival time of March 23, 2019.
Text: Robert Adams
Reporting by Robert Adams and David Correa
Map and photos: VesselFinder.com
Satellite photo: TankerTrackers.com
