ShipSpotting.com Forum
Shipspotters all over the world => Shipping News and information => Topic started by: Kelvin Davies on January 02, 2008, 10:12:39 AM
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I just heard on the BBC radio news (10:)) GMT) that a large container ship has gone aground off Dover.
No other details were given, other than the fact that the ship is "over 90,000 tons).
Kelvin
(I just posted this on the news section)
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It's the german containership "LT Cortesia"
http://containerinfo.co.ohost.de/vessel_9293753.html
rgds
Juergen
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Hi Kevin
Yes I heard the same - BBC Radio 4.
This from http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aDP7Ck1.Z4_w&refer=uk
Container Ship LT Cortesia Runs Aground in U.K.'s Dover Strait
By Alaric Nightingale
Jan. 2 (Bloomberg) -- A container ship ran aground in the Dover Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, the U.K.'s Maritime & Coastguard agency said.
The LT Cortesia grounded about 9 miles south of Dover Harbor, the agency said today on its Web site. There has been no pollution and ``early indications'' are that the vessel is watertight, the agency said.
Regards
Steve Ellwood
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Also this bit of news on the BBC website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7167666.stm
Ian Thomas
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LONDON (AFP) - A large container ship ran aground in the English Channel south of Dover on Wednesday, but all on board were safe and there were no reports of pollution, coastguards said.
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The German-registered "LT Cortesia" became stuck on the Varne-bank, a large underwater sand bank about nine miles south of the port, said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The 90,000-tonne vessel was travelling from the Thames estuary westbound towards the Atlantic Ocean when it ran aground around 5:00 am, it said in a statement.
"The vessel has 27 people on board who are all uninjured. Crew members are checking for damage on board but the cargo is reported to be secure and early indications are that the vessel is watertight," said the agency.
The English Channel is among the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and the stretch near Dover is its narrowest point, where traffic from the North Sea and the Atlantic squeezes through between England and France.
There was no reported pollution from the stricken vessel, the English coastguard adding that an emergency tug, the "Anglian Monarch," was on the scene to assess the damage and possibilities for salvaging the ship.
"Dover Coastguard and the Anglian Monarch will warn any approaching vessels of the potential navigation hazard posed by the LT Cortesia while she is aground," it said.
The container ship is carrying 42,785 tonnes of cargo, the agency added.
Efforts to pull the ship off of the underwater sandbank were initially working against a falling tide. The next high water was expected by early evening, around 1830 GMT.
Winds on the scene were reported as Force 4, a light breeze during the morning, but were expected to strengthen with gale-force winds possible later in the day, coastguards said.
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The reports say that there is no visible pollution, so that seems good for now! At least it will not have a re - lapse of the MSC Napoli, with the oil and the containers washing away!
- Nathan
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It is all very well knowing the ship is watertight and there is no pollution.
However, it seems the ship ran aground on a well charted bank at high tide.
Now that might make it interesting when it comes to re-floating it.
Perhaps someone got confused and went between the buoys the wrong way; green to starboard and red to port.
The bit between those two buoys can be as shallow as 3 metres!
Kelvin
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Presumably a investigation will take place?
Will someone be put on trial?
Nathan
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AIS showing LT CORTESIA aground on VARNE BANK where a lightship stands "guard". ADSTEAM MERCIA showing on AIS steaming down the Thames to assist the Coastguard Tug. Sent from my lap-top at a freezing Sheerness. Rgds j.w.
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The coastguard's emergency towing tug "Anglian Monarch" is in attendance and warning other vessels of the hazard.
rgds
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Hi All
Piece of video of the stricken vessel @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7167666.stm
Regards
Steve Ellwood
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Wow! Loads bigger than i thought!
Bigger than the MSC Napoli?
- Nathan
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NLHOBDAY wrote:
Wow! Loads bigger than i thought!
Bigger than the MSC Napoli?
- Nathan
Hi Nathan
Sure is :-o
LT Cortesia - 90,449 Gross Tons
MSC Napoli - 53,408 Gross Tons
Listening to the radio tonight the MCA are saying that tonights tide is the highest for a while so if it isn't re floated then it may well end up a lot more serious than it is at the moment. Some high winds are due in the English Channel tonight and over the next few days.
Regards
Steve Ellwood
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I dont think she will float, that video said she was going at quite a pace! She has probably drilled her way into the sand bank, and with the low tide, her DWT has probably forced her further! There going to need more than a coastgaurd tug!
-Nathan
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Nathan / Steve,
A few more stats:
MSC Napoli: 4,419 TEU vessel carrying 2,318 containers
LT Cortesia: 8,073 TEU vessel carrying 4,148 containers
Double trouble.....(almost)
Best regards,
Jim
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Anglian Monarch standing by with 152 tonnes bollard pull.
Svitzer Victory 64.8 tbp on scene.
Tugs Adsteam Mercia 42.6 tbp & Multratug 7 with 52 tonne bollard pullonly a few minutes away.
With a combined bollard pull of over 312 tonnes they should make some impact.
If they fail then I guess it will be the weekend before the tides start to rise sufficiently enough.
Had to laugh at the BBC report when the presenter said the ship was carrying 40,000 containers, thats 3 times bigger than the E class of Maersk's !!!!
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Had to laugh at the BBC report when the presenter said the ship was carrying 40,000 containers, thats 3 times bigger than the E class of Maersk's !!!!
Well that's our UK media for you, not ones to let the truth get in the way of a good story. Accuracy isn't their strong point and that goes for the BBC as much as anyone.
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There are currently 4 tugs (Coastguard Tug--ADSTEAM MERCIA--MULTRATUG 7--SVITZER VICTORY) around LT CORTESIA. Don't you think they might try to pull her out stern first if she's that far in !!! According to my little book this mornings high tide was 5.5m tonights 5.2m tomorrow mornings 5.4m so if they can't do it tonight tomorrow morning looks favourite. If not the next tides higher than this mornings are 5.1.08 0855hrs 5.6m and 5.1.08 2125hrs 5.7m rgds jw.
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The Varne seems to attract trouble - report of 26th April 2006.
At 1645UTC the bulk carrier Lowlands Maine grounded at a speed of 15.5 knots on the Varne Bank in the Dover Straits; weather conditions were good and the visibility excellent. The Chief Officer was the 1600-2000 watch officer, and a bridge lookout was posted. During the build up to, and at the actual time of the grounding, the Master was at the rear of the bridge communicating with the vessel
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Tugs - now there are more tugs on the scene, it should be possible. But what if there is unseen damage and removing the vessel could make it worse? Has there been a assesment yet?
- Nathan
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I actually do not think she will float again so easy. Many tugs and if not, a barge to put some containers aside to relief her, then maybe. Let'S see... :-? IT would be a big operation with a container carrier those proportions. It could make the rush at bank worse. Some crack or rupture then from the hull someway, if some load do not fall into water. :-( Maybe some sand should be pumped out lower hull, I think if the Tugs do not help. :-?
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Looking at Lloyds AIS-Live close up screen it might be good news on the tow off, there appears to be minute movement with the three commercial tugs towing it backwards. rgds jw 1911 utc...
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Not quite sure what's happening now, MULTRATUG 7 seems to have disappeared off somewhere, puzzling Rgds jw. 1927 UTC...
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http://www.aisliverpool.co.uk/showship.php?refresh=2&count=1&map=-1&mmsi=218059000
This shows, that all the tugs and the Cortesia are underway in NE'ly direction with a speed of app. 2 - 3 kn.
That means, the ship is free?
rgds Juergen
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Looyds AIS Live showing LT CORTESIA at 1943 UTC in Position N50.58.938 E 01.22.036 on a heading of 297 at 3.2k being towed backwards hopefully into deep water. SVITZER VICTORY AND ADSTEAM MERCIA doing a superb job. Keep going lads. rgds. jw.
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at 1950 utc now showing crossing a 30m depth line. Good news hopefully. rgds jw.
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From my very loose calculations she may have been towed in excess of a nautical mile by now. Rgds jw.
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Ive been watching the Rescue on Shipplotter and she is definately on the move, three tugs pulled her they were Adsteam Victory, Adsteam Mercia and Multratug7.Now going astern at 3.5Knts.Well done!! :-D
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It seems water got higher and only 3 tugs avoided something worst, it works the tow backwards then and nothing more seriously. A question, would be the case she then towed to some port nearby for inspection? or after towing, she will continue travelling to Suez?. Thanks for all info.
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MULTRATUG 7 is now back on the scene must have gone to Mcdoughnuts in Dover !!!!
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From the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7168742.stm
A happy ending. I wouldn't like to be in the Master's shoes though - he's got some explaining to do I should think.
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Yep you probably right Ha Ha! I reckon she thought that she was north of the Varne and passed the cardinal bouy on the wrong side. :-?
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She is now refloated and gone to anchor nearby. There appears to be little damage and her hull not holed. Big sigh of relief!!
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2010 UTC--Everything appears to be o.k. at the moment. Coastguard tug ANGLIAN MONARCH appears to be guarding entrance to outer SW Lane keeping shipping away, sending them down the inner SW lane. I suspect the LT CORTESIA may stay where she is until a complete underwater inspection is made, may be in the morning. Still surrounded by MULTRATUG 7--SVITZER VICTORY--ADSTEAM MERCIA--Very well done lads. It's about time I had some tea !!! Rgds j.w.
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I have received some intersting postings on my web site www.harwichhavenshipsandyachts.com showing close up AIS data with tugs etc during the refloating operation. It is well worth a look.
It is in the forum section under "Container news"
regards
pilotB10
www.harwichhavenshipsandyachts.com
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The ship is actually at an anchorage in The Downs 10 miles East of Dover, for most of the day while the teams work out how it ran aground. She underwent inspections overnight and also on Jan 3 by surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency tomorrow, as well as the vessels Classification Society Germanischer Lloyd. Then a decision will be made on where the vessel will go next. (Source: MCGA)
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At 1841 UTC Today 03.01.08 LT CORTESIA is underway at 14.8k on a heading of 185 out of the Downs Anchorage and into the SW Lane and soon to pass the Varne Lightship !!! Rgds jw.
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At 1928 UTC today LT CORTESIA appears to have passed the Varne Bank and is proceeding on a course of 232--at 18.3k. A very interesting 24 Hours. God Speed. Amen....