MSC FLAMINIA Update: Salvage Operation Underway After Explosion, Fire
Original Report: Container Vessel Abandoned Mid Atlantic After Explosion, Fire
August 15, 2012
There is still no permission for MSC FLAMINIA to enter a sheltered area or a subsequent emergency port. Reederei NSB and the salvage company both remain in contact with all littoral states to acquire this permission.
At the same time, MSC FLAMINIA and its accompanying group of tugs have taken a position over 400 nautical miles west of the entrance of The English Channel to avoid bad weather and the expected swell. Since the coming days are projected to bring deteriorating weather conditions, the group has set a northwesterly course to an area where less swell is expected. Its speed is 4.5 knots.
A significant impairment of the stability of MSC FLAMINIA due the expected wave height cannot be excluded and is observed apprehensively.
In the meantime, Reederei NSB has declared general average for the vessel.
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August 14, 2012
Due to the inconsistent weather conditions salvage operations onboard MSC FLAMINIA can not be conducted continuously at the moment. The position of MSC FLAMINIA remains unchanged and the vessel is listing at 2.5 degrees.
Negotiations regarding the permission to enter a sheltered coastal area or an emergency port are still without any result.
The image accompanying this statement, dated from the morning of August 13 2012, shows the damage to cargo holds 4, 5 and 6 as well as to the hull of MSC FLAMINIA. In addition, smoke emission in cargo hold 7 is discernable.
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August 13, 2012
As weather conditions remained stable, firefighting experts onboard of MSC FLAMINIA continued to extinguish individual containers until yesterday evening. Currently, weather conditions worsened, forcing the suspension of the operations until the weather improves again.
During the past days the salvage team was able to stabilize the vessel by pumping water from the cargo holds into the ballast water tanks. By now, MSC FLAMINIA is listing by just 2.5 degrees. With this list, the vessel is stabilized to the extent that the entry into an emergency port is possible.
MSC FLAMINIA and its accompanying group of tugs are currently holding a waiting position approximately 240 nautical miles off the coast of the UK.
Despite ongoing talks with all involved authorities, a permission to enter a sheltered coastal area or an emergency port has not been granted yet.
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Source: http://www.reederei-nsb.de