Hoegh Osaka aground on Bramble Bank

[Deleted User YDKXO]

...and they've just refloated it in time for a big storm. I guess it was a gamble whether the storm would hole it if left aground or capsize it if refloated.
Will be interesting to see what happens

Yes you're probably right. If they'd left the ship on the Bramble Bank whilst they attempted to secure the cargo and right the ship, the forecast winds could well have pushed it further on to the Bank and damaged the ship much more than it is now. All the same, the salvors must have big cojones to tow the ship off with it still listing at 50deg

 

[prv]

And the marine traffic AIS at 16.30 shows a Sunsail yacht across the path

That and a big RIB called "Sooty Shearwater" have been shadowing the cluster of tugs since it moved off the bank. Just sightseers, maintaining a safe and legal distance. I'd be doing the same if the boat wasn't up on bricks

Pete

 

[chanelyacht]

All the same, the salvors must have big cojones to tow the ship off with it still listing at 50deg

Mike, it wasn't their decision!

 

[prv]

the salvors must have big cojones to tow the ship off with it still listing at 50deg

As ChanelYacht says, reports are that they didn't tow it off. It spontaneously refloated on the tide and started drifting about, so they had no real choice but to take it under tow.

Pete

 

[burgundyben]

I'm beginning to think they are going to pull this off.

If they get her facing the right way the wind will help to lift her back upright too.

 

[Trundlebug]

I'm beginning to think they are going to pull this off.

If they get her facing the right way the wind will help to lift her back upright too.

Hmm. Think it'll take more than a bit of wind to do that

 

[mm42]

From the Coastguard Facebook account:

UPDATE: HOEGH OSAKA BEING MOVED
The ship self floated at 1.55pm and all salvors had left the vessel safely. The list of the ship is unchanged and the vessel is currently under tow to a preferred holding position 2 miles east of the original grounding position.

This new location is just inside Portsmouth Harbour and is close to the area called Spitbank. Queen’s Harbour Master Portsmouth has established a temporary exclusion zone of 300 metres around the vessel. Only exempt vessels are to enter the exclusion zone.

The tow to the new position is being carried out by Svitzer, the salvors, and the new holding position will allow a full assessment of her condition. Disruption to the Port of Southampton is minimal; there will be a slight restriction in traffic movements until the Hoegh Osaka is clear of the main channel, but no closure of the port is anticipated.
Posted by Hm Coastguard at 16:31

 

[Giblets]

I can't believe that last quote is from the Coastguard! Alpha anchorage is nowhere near Spitbank and not inside Portsmouth Harbour, FFS!!! In the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth maybe.

Bloody clever of APB to chuck it over into QHM's jurisdiction though!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Mike, it wasn't their decision!

Whose decision was it? Surely once the salvors are appointed, they make the decisions on how thje salvage operation goes

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

The "additional bouyancy" has come from the salvors removing much of the water that had got into the ship. That lightening exercise was also the principle reason the ship decided to refloat.

I don't think she was listing at 52deg prior to grounding, she was more upright than that during the incident then the list increased during her time on the bank.

She still looks a long way over to me! It doesn't look as though they've attempted to re-ballast the ship at all. She may have floated off on her own but that still doesn't mean that she is safe to tow nor as I said does it mean that the cargo will remain where it is. I guess at least they must have repaired the hole through which the water leak was coming? I still think it was a bit risky but then what do I know!

 

[[70521]]

Whose decision was it? Surely once the salvors are appointed, they make the decisions on how thje salvage operation goes

The ship or tide took the decision.

 

[AndrewL]

I've just driven down to Egypt Point to take a look. The AIS data on marinetraffic still shows "Wreck" in the same position, but she is definitely gone, she is now just West of Lee on Solent. With binoculars I could just make out that she is still listing heavily.

 

[VicS]

I can't believe that last quote is from the Coastguard! Alpha anchorage is nowhere near Spitbank and not inside Portsmouth Harbour, FFS!!! In the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth maybe.

Bloody clever of APB to chuck it over into QHM's jurisdiction though!

From QHM

1. Mariners are advised that the Queens Harbour Master has made the following General Direction under the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth Order 2005, effective immediately until further notice. Following the refloating of MV Hoegh Osaka and its move to the vicinity of Alpha Anchorage in the central Solent (approx 50 46.84N 001 14.90W), a Temporary Exclusion Zone (TEZ) is established on the vessel. The TEZ extends to a distance of 300 metres from the extremities of the vessel and only those vessels specifically exempted may enter the TEZ.
2. Initially, the vessel will be held in position by tugs and will thus not be in a stationary position. It is stressed that the TEZ is based on the vessel and not on an absolute position. This is to allow manoeuvring of the vessel as required for the salvage operation.
3. Tugs and other support craft will be in attendance in the vicinity of the vessel and will illuminate it during the hours of darkness.
4. This TEZ is established both to ensure salvage operations can continue without hindrance and also to ensure the safety of other marine users.
5. The Marine Officer in charge of the Southampton Patrol is hereby delegated powers to give special directions to enforce the TEZ. Mariners are advised that a failure to comply with this General Direction is a criminal offence.
6. This General Direction will remain in force until MV Hoegh Osaka is moved away from Alpha Anchorage, when it will be formally cancelled.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

The ship or tide took the decision.

Not really. The salvors could have held the ship in the same position on the Bramble Bank with tugs, cranes or even buoys. It sounds very much like a spur of the moment decision to start towing her once she lifted

 

[prv]

From QHM

Already posted back in #145. And doesn't really answer Giblets's point anyway.

The Coastguard press release was obviously cribbed from the NtM by some junior PR bod who doesn't really know the area.

Pete

 

[epervier]

Sounds more like a knee jerk reaction, to an unexpected event ,the thing started to float off out of control, **** get a line on it pronto, we'll do a rewrite afterwards and say it was all in the method statement and risk assessment tomorrow

 

[mlines]

Not really. The salvors could have held the ship in the same position on the Bramble Bank with tugs, cranes or even buoys. It sounds very much like a spur of the moment decision to start towing her once she lifted

But once its afloat it has to be moved as far as I believe. If its floating and they hold it where it is then it is going to bounce up and down on the sandback which would soon damage the hull.

 

[JSYmartini]

The move was planned for thursday, believe it or not they had to wait for permission from the government first. Looks like they were forced to go early. The original plan was to move her to Mother bank near Ryde

 

[[70521]]

Not really. The salvors could have held the ship in the same position on the Bramble Bank with tugs, cranes or even buoys. It sounds very much like a spur of the moment decision to start towing her once she lifted

Perhaps, but looking at the pictures I don't think they had the kit at hand to do so.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

It turns out the ship has it's very own twitter account...

https://twitter.com/HoeghOsaka