JULY 12, 2013 — ClassNK says that the fore section of the MOL Comfort, which sank yesterday, had been expected to provide valuable information on the cause of the casualty.

A ClassNK Casualty Investigation Team has been working in close contact with shipowner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and government authorities to determine the cause of casualty.

ClassNK says that in view of the loss of the fore section, its Casualty Investigation Team will expedite the investigation into the cause of the incident, and expects to consolidate its preliminary findings by early September 2013.

Meantime, MOL said today that the salvage team had left the scene of the sinking after monitoring the situation in the area. MOL said that "no more oil film was observed" and that "most of the floating containers sank and could no longer be spotted."