Tanker, 22 Crewmen Drifting Powerless Off Ireland

Published Jan 13, 2014 2:41 PM by The Maritime Executive

Photo: Irish Coast Guard helicopter demonstrating a sea rescue with the RNLI.

A tugboat was sent to assist a stricken ship adrift off Ireland’s Co Clare coast.

The tanker, carrying a 15,000-ton cargo of caustic soda with 22 crew onboard, lost power to its main engines 100 nautical miles off Loop Head while bound for Aughinish in the Shannon Estuary.

The Dublin Coast Guard is coordinating the operation. Its tug was scheduled to reach the tanker on Monday afternoon. It also said that a decision on whether to use the Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter to ferry engineers and parts to the ship would be made later.

Sea conditions are said to be rough with a six-meter swell and winds of up to force eight. While not believed to be in danger at present, the Coast Guard is carefully monitoring the situation and the volatile weather conditions at sea.