Stadiongracht grounded near Rauma

[Pekka Laakso]

Hi,

The Dutch general cargo vessel Stadiongracht (IMO: 9202508) went aground last night a bit after midnight outside Rauma, Finland. Most likely the cause is a steering failure when trying to make a turn to take the pilot onboard. At the moment they are negotiating with tug and salvage operators about the refloating. So far no oil spill has been found, but one ballast tank is holed according to many Finnish media resources. The frontier guard patrol boat Tursas is on the scene as well.

The Stadiongracht was approaching Rauma on her way from Brazil via Kotka with a load of china clay for forest industry.

May add some links to the news later.

brgds,
Pekka

[snocky]

Happy New Year PEKKA. Haven,t heard from you for quite awhile. Hope things are well with you & yours. Guess stadiongracht is in port by now. Was there much or any damage to her? With downturn in paper industry i guess you don,t see as many of spliethoff fleet as you did previously calling at kokta. Best rgds. 

[Pekka Laakso]

Stadiongracht is still aground, but today there will be first attempts to refloat her by PKL managed tugs (chartered by Finnish Sea Service) MARS, MARSS-1 and JUPITER. Also it is possible to lighten her cargo beforehand. Meanwhile also Saimaagracht is proceeding Rauma to pick the paper reel load planned for Stadiongracht for the USEC. Some links in Finnish about the situation:

http://www.ls24.fi/kotimaa/kauppaalus_tukevasti_karilla_rauman_ulkopuolella_2842117.html
http://www.ls24.fi/raumajaalue/hollantilaislaiva_edelleen_tiukasti_kiinni_rihtniemen_edustalla_2843478.html
http://www.satakunnankansa.fi/cs/Satellite/Satakunta/1194660550063/artikkeli/hollantilaisalusta+yritetaan+irti+ehka+perjantaina+iltapaivalla.html

@snocky: at Kotka there call the china clay vessels and sometimes few in project cargo and yacht shipments.

brgds,
Pekka

[Pekka Laakso]

Refloated today morning and is now anchored at safe location near the shipping lane. The divers are now investigating the damages.

brgds,
Pekka

[Pekka Laakso]

The Stadiongracht was towed by PKL tugs Mars and Jupiter safely to Rauma for discharging her cargo on Thursday. Before part of the cargo was lightened to Wijnne Barends Russian flagged cargo vessel Kirsten.

The local press is saying that the vessel will be drydocked somewhere else than in Finland. What have heard is that the location seems not to have decided yet, neither just published yet.

Edit: The final decision was to drydock her at Naantali, Finland.

brgds,
Pekka