Bulker detained in Iraq following deadly collision with local OSV

A bulk carrier has been detained off Basra in southern Iraq after it was involved in a deadly collision with a local offshore support vessel.

The Royal Arsenal has been boarded by local police and cannot leave the country. It was involved in a collision with the Al-Misbar OSV on Saturday. The OSV with 21 crew capsized and up to 16 people are feared to have died. A floating crane was deployed this week to raise the OSV.

The bulk carrier is owned by North Baltic Maritime, according to European shipping database, Equasis.