Container vessel abandoned mid atlantic.

Minn said:
Not the MCA - SOSREP.
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"SOSREP is empowered to make crucial and often time-critical decisions, without delay and without recourse to higher authority, where such decisions are in the overriding UK public interest."

I feel a poll coming on...
Do the members of the Scuttlebutt jury believe "MSC Flaminia" should be offered safe haven in a UK port? :D
 
"MSC Flaminia" is being towed at 2 knots by "Fairmount Expedition" on a long tow line.

"Anglian Sovereign" is standing off to Starboard and fire-fighting whilst "Carlo Mango" is standing-by to the rear starboard quarter of the stricken vessel.

http://www.vesselfinder.com/

Type in any one of the ships names to view ;)

Second thoughts, she is probably being towed stern first due to the fire-fighting crews not being able to get a line onto the bow of MSC Flaminia so therefore the port and starboard as mentioned above would need to be reversed.
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Minn said:
I'll play.

It will be obvious from my earlier posts that I am humungously biassed, by reason of my occupation, but yes, she should be.

Indeed I will say that it is always better to allow a ship in trouble to take refuge in sheltered water.
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Sorry but I disagree, I am not happy that the risk this ship may pose is not fully known, and by allowing safe refuge we may be putting the UK at risk, for no benefit. This opertion is not about saving life but about the commercial needs of the owners, their insurers and of course the salvors, none of whom are known to be UK taxpayers, so currently no known benefit to UK PLC
 
Thia is the first talk of towing it to the UK?

Feuer auf "MSC Flaminia" gelöscht
25.07.2012, 19:10 Uhr | ID 181722 | 2 Leser | Ressort: Vermischtes / Schifffahrt

Buxtehude. Das Feuer auf dem im Atlantik havarierten Containerschiff "MSC Flaminia" ist gelöscht worden. Nach neun Tagen sei der Brand auf dem 300 Meter langen Schiff unter Kontrolle, sagte eine Sprecherin der Reederei. Es gebe kein offenes Feuer mehr. Daher konnte ein Bergungsteam den Frachter am Mittwoch betreten. Die Spezialisten sollen sich einen Überblick über die Lage an Bord verschaffen. Wie die Reederei mitteilte, wird das Schiff nun von Schleppern in Richtung Großbritannien gezogen. Insgesamt gab es zwei Explosionen an Bord der "MSC Flaminia", die den neun Tage andauernden Brand auslösten. Die Ursachen für die Detonationen sind bisher völlig unklar.
 
lenseman said:
"MSC Flaminia" is being towed at 2 knots by "Fairmount Expedition" on a long tow line.

"Anglian Sovereign" is standing off to Starboard and fire-fighting whilst "Carlo Mango" is standing-by to the rear starboard quarter of the stricken vessel.

http://www.vesselfinder.com/

Type in any one of the ships names to view ;)

Second thoughts, she is probably being towed stern first due to the fire-fighting crews not being able to get a line onto the bow of MSC Flaminia so therefore the port and starboard as mentioned above would need to be reversed.
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.
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It is "normal practice" to tow a ship with aft accomodation and with a cargo fire stern first; this reduces the chances of the fire spreading to the accomodation block and the engine room.
 
maxi77 said:
Sorry but I disagree, I am not happy that the risk this ship may pose is not fully known, and by allowing safe refuge we may be putting the UK at risk, for no benefit. This opertion is not about saving life but about the commercial needs of the owners, their insurers and of course the salvors, none of whom are known to be UK taxpayers, so currently no known benefit to UK PLC
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I have to say that I agree with Minn. Recovery of the vessel and safe disposal of cargo etc is in everyone's interest. Gulf stream flows directly to us anyway and thus most will wash up on our shores if she flounders. There doesn't always have to be a pay-off to do the right thing and the longer she's left on the high seas, the greater the risks - to us, other vessels, the marine environment AND ultimately all our insurance premiums! :rolleyes:
 
maxi77 said:
Sorry but I disagree, I am not happy that the risk this ship may pose is not fully known, and by allowing safe refuge we may be putting the UK at risk, for no benefit. This opertion is not about saving life but about the commercial needs of the owners, their insurers and of course the salvors, none of whom are known to be UK taxpayers, so currently no known benefit to UK PLC
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If kept at sea she will sink; this will result in a claim on the insurers some of whom are in the UK for sure, but more pertinently there will be pollution.
 
rbcoomer said:
I have to say that I agree with Minn. Recovery of the vessel and safe disposal of cargo etc is in everyone's interest. Gulf stream flows directly to us anyway and thus most will wash up on our shores if she flounders. There doesn't always have to be a pay-off to do the right thing and the longer she's left on the high seas, the greater the risks - to us, other vessels, the marine environment AND ultimately all our insurance premiums! :rolleyes:
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Indeed, but why should we be host to a suspect ship without the benefit of the work, that is the problem, she gets dumped in Falmouth whilst they negotiate the next steps, but what happens when she sinks there because the negotiations drag on. Will the French allow her into Brest?, the Dutch allow her into Rotterdam? The real problem is UK PLC gets continually taken for a ride in these situations, basically to line the pockets of offshore companies.
 
To clarify Lenseman's post:

Fire on "MSC Flaminia" deleted
07.25.2012, 19:10 clock | id 181 722 | 2 Readers | Department: Miscellaneous / shipping

Buxtehude. The fire on the container ship crashed in the Atlantic "MSC Flaminia" has been deleted. After nine days of the fire was on the 300-foot ship under control, said a spokeswoman for the shipping company. It was no longer open fire. Therefore, a recovery team could enter the freighter on Wednesday. The specialists will get an overview of the situation on board. As the shipping company announced that the ship is now pulled by tugs to Great Britain. Overall, there were two explosions on board the "MSC Flaminia", which triggered the nine days of fire. The causes of the explosions are so far unclear.

And the ship manager's own press release:

Buxtehude, July 24 2012

According to salvage experts on site, the fire onboard MSC FLAMINIA is under control since yesterday afternoon. The tugboat ANGLIAN SOVEREIGN is constantly monitoring temperatures onboard the vessel via a laser thermometer and is ready to resume cooling if necessary.

Due to thick fog the salvage team is currently unable to board MSC FLAMINIA. As soon as visibility improves, a salvage team will go onboard to check each container individually and extinguish any discovered fires. Only after this procedure MSC FLAMINIA will receive the permission to make a port call. It is currently not concluded which port the vessel will call next as this is still under review.

MSC FLAMINIA is still towed by FAIRMOUNT EXPEDITION, with ANGLIAN SOVEREIGN und CARLO MAGNO on standby. The group sails at a speed of 5kn towards Europe and is currently situated 320 nautical miles off the coast of the UK.

The vessel still lists by approximately 10 degrees due to damaged cargo and extinguishing water.
 
maxi77 said:
Indeed, but why should we be host to a suspect ship without the benefit of the work, that is the problem, she gets dumped in Falmouth whilst they negotiate the next steps, but what happens when she sinks there because the negotiations drag on. Will the French allow her into Brest?, the Dutch allow her into Rotterdam? The real problem is UK PLC gets continually taken for a ride in these situations, basically to line the pockets of offshore companies.
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Whilst I understand fully your concerns and respect your viewpoint, the last thing I believe needed is a 'nimby' view taken by all ports of refuge that results in her sinking. (Not accusing you of that as your original post was questioning if we should, not saying would shouldn't allow her) I'd think however that once inshore the fire can be contained and ship secured. We are also probably closest and best equipped? Whilst there may not necessarily be 'reward' for this other than perhaps a few hours of local work and revenue, life isn't always about reward - or at least shouldn't be! You probably wouldn't get a fiscal reward for plucking someone from the sea either, but hopefully would still do so. Just because the French or Dutch might be self-serving, does that mean we should too? I'd personally be satisfied with the knowledge that a few hundred containers aren't floating about waiting to sink another vessel... Sometimes vessels sink and there's nothing we can do about it, but when we can, I think we should. All IMHO of course... ;)
 
penfold said:
To clarify Lenseman's post:

Fire on "MSC Flaminia" deleted
07.25.2012, 19:10 clock | id 181 722 | 2 Readers | Department: Miscellaneous / shipping . . . . . . The vessel still lists by approximately 10 degrees due to damaged cargo and extinguishing water.
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Although you posted that recently, that press release was originally issued on 18 July, a week ago, so it so pretty much history?

All vessels involved in the incident are now just 185nm from The Scilly Isles and 225nm due west of Brest. ;)
 
maxi77 said:
Indeed, but why should we be host to a suspect ship without the benefit of the work, that is the problem, she gets dumped in Falmouth whilst they negotiate the next steps, but what happens when she sinks there because the negotiations drag on. Will the French allow her into Brest?, the Dutch allow her into Rotterdam? The real problem is UK PLC gets continually taken for a ride in these situations, basically to line the pockets of offshore companies.
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Well, they could tow her to Clacton and restart the fires & explosions, that way everyone's a winner ! :)
 
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