Container vessel abandoned mid atlantic.

UPDATE today Friday 03 August 2012:

Situation on board the MSC FLAMINIA is unchanged. The team of firefighting experts has been unable to board the vessel since July 30th, 2012 due to bad weather conditions. A change of weather situation is predicted for Sunday this week. A detailed statement regarding the condition of cargo hold 7 is only to be made when the salvage team can board the MSC FLAMINIA again. Temperatures are monitored continuously in this area in order to carry on with boundary cooling. MSC FLAMINIA is still listing by approximately 10 degrees. Her waiting position is approximately 360 nautical miles off the British coast. A decision to enter a sheltered coastal area has not yet been made but is expected in the coming days.

Source: NSB press release: www.reederei-nsb.com
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Hopefully, the fire-fighters managed to get back onboard MSC Flaminia today, Sunday and there is no further news as to which port she will finally end up for repairs but I believe Mor Glaz in Brest, France are playing their card to win the contract.

If they are thinking of taking her into Brest, it would be a bit like threading the eye of a needle -- quite a narrow Gulet, with rocky bits down the middle.

Would need a classy bit of tug-work !!!

Plomong
 
Dans un courrier adressé, vendredi, au cabinet de Delphine Batho, ministre de l'Écologie et des Transports, l'association Mor Glaz plaide pour une solution brestoise concernant le cas du MSC-Flaminia, porte-conteneurs victime d'une explosion.
> Les images du MSC Flaminia en feu

«Le port de Brest est le port le plus près du MSC-Flaminia, ce navire qui agonise depuis le 14 juillet au large des côtes françaises», rappelle Jean-Paul Hellequin, porte-parole de l'association. «Les industriels brestois et notamment les chantiers de réparations navales vont-ils saisir l'occasion qui se présente à eux?

"The Port of Brest is the nearest port-MSC Flaminia, this ship is dying since July 14 off the French coast," says Jean-Paul Hellequin, spokesman for the association. "The Brest and industrial sites including ship repairs will they seize the opportunity that comes their way?

Mor Glaz le souhaite et soutiendra cette démarche. Rappelons que Brest est un port qui à tous les professionnels nécessaires pour prendre encharge l'escale de ce navire. Même si les informations sont peu nombreuses, nous pouvons observer sur les photos que le MSC-Flaminia pourrait, d'après le tirant d'eau et en débarquant quelques conteneurs sur rade, trouver une place au quai sud n°6 qui reçoit sans problème des navires d'un tirant d'eau de plus de 12,70 m.

«Ce porte-conteneurs, qui transporte 2.876 caissons, est un danger pour l'homme et l'environnement car que contiennent-ils? Pour le moment, tous ceux quinous rassurent sans arrêt pratiquent la politique de l'autruche. Nous pourrions supposer que, comme pour l'Ivoli-Sun en 2000 etautres navires, que si le MSC-Flaminia coulait, cela simplifierait lavie de tous ceux qui devraient prendre les bonnes décisions (...).

Comme après l'échouement du cargo TK-Bremen, en décembre 2011 sur la plage de Erdeven, Éva Joly, le président de la région Bretagne, plusieurs associations, le syndicat CGT des Marins du Grand ouest avaient réclamé un remorqueur etdes nouvelles mesures. L'effet médiatique étant retombé, ces demandes sont passées aux oubliettes?», conclut Mor Glaz.

http://brest.letelegramme.com/local...end-l-option-brestoise-04-08-2012-1796435.php
 
Fire-fighting Experts Reboard 'MSC Flaminia' After Storm
Press Release


'MSC Flaminia', fire still smouldering in No. 7 hold, boarded again after foul weather in UK Western Approaches.



The ship managers report as follows:

Thanks to improving weather conditions, a team of firefighting experts is able to board MSC FLAMINIA and continue the salvaging efforts today. Boarding had not been possible since July 30 2012.

The current measures aim at inspecting areas which had not been accessible so far. Also, data is being collected to calculate and assess the stability of the vessel.

Smoke emission in cargo hold 7 has declined significantly. Temperatures in this area are also dropping again. Currently, no cooling by the accompanying tugboats is necessary.

MSC FLAMINIA is still listing by approximately 10 degrees.

A decision to enter a sheltered coastal area has still not yet been made.
Aug 7, 2012
 
Giblets,

thanks for that; some pretty strong hints in the latest post...

So is her back broken, or is it the photo angle / me ?

I can't believe they'll let her sink, relatively close; but I hear there's a low coming in by Sunday...
 
Does she have any facility to jettison containers deliberately? In the images available I don't see any way of removing a container individually.
 
Does she have any facility to jettison containers deliberately? In the images available I don't see any way of removing a container individually.

Not safely; the braces and locks are not designed to be released under load, so releasing while the ship is listing would be very hazardous for the stevedore even if possible.
 
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I got the impression the 'container jettison facility' consisted of large explosions followed by a 10 degree list - might work on 'Thunderbirds' !

I would guess that imaginative use of a gas axe would be on the agenda. Although that could be very dangerous...

IMO I still have not seen a good reason why has not been owed into a sheltered haven.

Must be some serious cargo concerns we are not being told about, also lack of press coverage (even for Olympics)..
 

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