Saga Sky in tTrouble off Dover

[brimar]

Hong Kong registered Bulker Saga Sky (9144354)in trouble off Dover
Dover & Dungeness RNLI IN Attendance.

[ridgerunner]

Local news reporting it hit a barge and is taking on water, Crew being evacuated by RNLI.

[Tomas]

Pretty sure the barge is this one:
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2001298


Tomas

[Robert J Smith]

http://news.sky.com/story/ship-in-trouble-off-dover-as-storm-angus-lashes-southern-england-10664819

[ridgerunner]

French tug ABEILLE LANGUEDOC now arrived along with the Tanker COASTALWATER. We hope for a good outcome.

[ridgerunner]

Regained some power and heading for shelter off Dungeness.

[holedrille]

What has been the role of the tanker Coastalwater which appears to have drifted aimlessly in the same area as Saga Sky, at one time getting within a couple of lengths of her. Now some miles away but not proceeding anywhere. Hardly providing assistance as the French rescue tug and one or two RNLI lifeboats are looking after that? And what about the stone barge, where is that? Is it  powered barge?
Holedriller

[ridgerunner]

The Coastalwater is normally based in Dover where it took over duties from the Coralwater, Maybe it was on standby to offload fuel if needed?

[Mike Griffiths]

SAGA SKY track from marinetraffic:

[Riverman2903]

Be nice if we still had a Dover based ETV able to respond to just this sort of incident! 

Anyone with knowledge know if the DHB harbour tugs are still available for salvage operations or was the wind too strong to risk sending them out; although presumably they too busy looking after the ferries although the port was shut wasn't it?

Anyway looks like a good outcome (so far) so thank you RNLI 

[brimar]

If it was the 'STEMA BARGE' that the 'SAGA SEA' collided with,which is owned by the Netherlands based Towage specialist Multraship, I think I remember the same barge was in big trouble back in November 2008 when it parted company with its tug 'Hellas'(IMO 7419690)while inbound to Eemshaven with a cargo of 24,000 tons of rock. There after which a huge salvage operation  put into action.

[Timsen]

Here's a French report regarding the role of the Coastalwater - she was in need of assistance too:
https://www.premar-manche.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/operation-assistance-navire-difficulte-dans-les-eaux-britanniques-france-apporte-son-soutien.html