DOVER COASTGUARD ALERTED TO LOSS OF TIMBER FROM RUSSIAN VESSEL

[Guest]

Hi All

From the MCA web site @ http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/newsandpublications/press-releases.htm?id=17D72B710D191BED&m=1&y=2009

Photograph of the vessel @ http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=240976

Press Notice No: 11-09
Monday, January 19, 2009
Posted 10:58 GMT

DOVER COASTGUARD ALERTED TO LOSS OF TIMBER FROM RUSSIAN VESSEL

Around 8.15 this morning Dover Coastguard were alerted to the loss of 1500 metric tonnes of sawn timber which has been lost from the deck of the 1991 built, 137 metre, single screw, single deck , Russian vessel `Sinegorsk, 14 nautical miles south of Newhaven. The vessel was heading to Alexandria in Egypt from Oskarshamn in Russia.

The vessel with 25 people on board initially developed a 15 degree list and is now heading for shelter towards the Isle of Wight. The crew on board also began to take ballast water into the vessels starboard side to help even the list, which has reduced her list to 10 degrees. The vessel was within the traffic separation scheme at the time of the incident.

The MCAs Counter Pollution Team have been advised, and a aerial surveillance aircraft is already in the air and has been tasked to survey and identify the location of the debris and to see whether the wood is remaining in secure bundles, or have yet broken apart. Using modeling predictions it is currently estimated that the wood may come ashore sometime later today between Brighton and Newhaven dependent on the prevailing weather patterns.

Dover Coastguard is now broadcasting into the sea area alerting other vessels to the sea borne debris. The Coastguard Tug, the `Anglian Earl which was in Boulogne has now also been sent to the scene in order to provide a presence at the site of the loss to warn other approaching ships and to monitor the rate of drift. The Newhaven RNLI lifeboat has also been sent to the area.

The weather in the area is poor at present, with southerly winds veering southwest force 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally Storm 10 with moderate to rough seas and squally rain.

As the vessel and any debris head west then Solent Coastguard will take over co-ordination of the incident from Dover. The Receiver of Wreck has also been kept informed of the sawn timber, and its likely impact on the shoreline.

[Jim Croucher]

She looks like a sister of ICE PRINCE, KODIMA and BOTHNIA STONE that have all had similar problems in the same area over the last few years. It was almost exactly a year ago that ICE PRINCE met a similar (but eventually worse) fate in the English Channel with her cargo washing up on the South coast.

Jim-C

[Allan RO]

Hi Jim

Not a sister, but very similar in design - this one was built in Spain.

Allan

[Kelvin Davies]

Isn't it ironic that the same day this happened, the local authorities in Worthing are unveiling a stained glass panel to commemorate the timber spill from the Ice Prince.
Initially, the BBC reported the Sinegorsk was going in to Portsmouth but someone must have had a change of plan as she is now moored in Southampton.

[henrycourt]

Whilst ship-spotting this afternoon from the Leas in Folkestone I spotted subject matter gently moving up the channel under the watchful eye of ANGLIAN EARL. As far as I could work out the 'slick' is at, or near the inshore edge of the South West separation lane so might not be too much of a problem for smaller vessels. rgds..

[Kelvin Davies]

Southampton VTS is showing Sinegorsk is on it's way into dry dock this morning.

[Timsen]

Timber washes ashore in Kent:
http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/14957/Timber-from-stricken-cargo-ship.4902698.jp