Southampton Port Closed

[Kelvin Davies]

The port of Southampton was closed overnight as a result of a gas leak at the Esso terminal at Fawley.
A tanker was being loaded with propane gas when a leak developed and everything was shut down because it was feared there could be an explosion.
As all incoming and outgoing shipping for Southampton has to pass close to the Esso terminal, the port was closed as a safety measure.
The port re-opened at 06:00.
It was not mentioned which tanker was involved but I suspect it may have been the Lotta Kosan which I photographed arriving at Fawley yesterday.
It is a pity the weather is probably too poor for photographs today as there will be a long line of ships coming in and out this morning
Kelvin

[Kelvin Davies]

I have just discovered that the ship involved in the gas leak was the Hong Kong registered Ennerdale, IMO 9151448.
Kelvin

[spanner]

Correct the ship in question was the Ennerdale. A gas line failed while ship was being sampled last night and the leak could not be contained from that tank. The ship loaded with 1750t of LPG. Half the  cargo from the unaffected tank was pumped back to shore and the other tank was made safe with the loss of some of its cargo.

[Paul Bevis]

Confirmed by BBC as Ennerdale

[laurie]

This may be entirely unrelated but I have noticed that the shipping movements on the Southampton VTS website have not been updated since 13.00 on 18th October

[DanSTN]

Although this incident was well contained and posed little obvious danger, its does concern you when things like this happen. I live about half a mile from where the Ennerdale was berthed and I must admit I was feeling a bit concerned that my wife and baby were playing in the garden unaware of what was going on!

The Thrax and the Tenax spent most of wednesday hosing the Ennerdale down, and she appears to have sailed at some point today.

[Kelvin Davies]

Laurie,
I had noticed this too. At this time (07:00 20 Oct) it is still the same.
Now it is becoming aggravating; deciding whether or not to make the 92 mile round trip from Basingstoke depends very much on this info being current.
Kelvin

[Kelvin Davies]

Better news!
The Southampton VTS schedule page has been updated again today at 18:00.
It was like being blind without that.
Kelvin