PORT : PUERTO CABELLO DATE: 04TH AUG,2003 To : Marine Dept, Nissho Shipping Co.,Ltd To : Nissho maritec TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN LETTER CONCERNING DAMAGE TO THE SHIP Re : M/V Ivs Hunter damage to the ship’s frames in hold Dear Sirs, I regret to inform you that on the July 26, 2003 after completed discharging cargo Gypsum in hold No.5 at Barraquilla-Colombia we carried out to clean , to wash and to inspect the condition of cargo hold and I found that some frames between frame No.45 and frame No.55 (5 frames) at Starboard side of hold No.5 at position connecting with the top of No.5 Ballast Water Tank Starboard and ship’s hull which were bending, this damage happened before due to stress of touching berth strong impact I discovered that the original paint was cracked, the frames were bended, rusted and the Previous Chief Officer said to me that the previous Captain Phan Trong Xuan ordered crew used paint – UMEGUARD touched up at the bending position of that frames.When I embarked vessel at Civitavechia-Italy I found the ship’s starboardside at Hold No.5 and No.2 at position under load line draft was abnormal and also made photographs This matter also was reported from previous Chief Officer Nguyen Duc Binh to me that the damages were happened before at the Port –RAVENNA ,ITALY during the time maneuvering to berth for discharging cargo – Zircon in bulk on the 05th Oct,2002 , ship went Astern for berthing and touched strong impact to the berth Starboard side alongside at Hold No.2 & No.5 That damages were reported by Chief Officer Nguyen Duc Binh to Captain Phan Trong Xuan when ship’s already alongside at RAVENNA I had checked ship’s document but couldn’t find any Sea Protest of this matter and also no had any Reports to Company about that damage happened Before take hand-over from going out Capt.Phan Trong Xuan , I also recommended him about that damage happened longtime ago but he said to me that he thought no need to make Protest For my opinion this damage should be carried out survey In connection with this damage I would kindly ask you to give permission for opening the Ballast Water Tank No5 & No.2 Starboard to inspect and send an official survey to my ship as soon as possible to carry out an appropriate survey and estimate the extent and amount of the damage caused and advice the proper papers should be made to against the loss caused to the ship’s Owner and Charterer Yours faithfully, Master of M.V IVS HUNTER Capt Le Hong Chien