Fairmount Marine’s ocean going salvage tug Fairmount Expedition, accompanied by tugs Anglian Sovereign and Carlo Magno, have safely delivered container vessel MSC Flaminia in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, after a hair-raising adventure lasting seven weeks.
The MSC Flaminia, owned by German Reederei NSB, was on her way from
the US to Europe when a dramatic explosion and fire caused her to be
abandoned by her crew at the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Fairmount Marine and Smit Salvage mobilized the ocean going salvage tug
Fairmount Expedition, which was stationed in Falmouth, UK, with two
salvage masters from Rotterdam on board and was first to reach the
disabled vessel to render assistance. After several days of cooling the
vessel’s hull, the fire operations had to be temporarily suspended due to
severe risk of explosions.
The Fairmount Expedition was later joined by the tug Anglian Sovereign
from UK’s J.P. Knight, carrying the main fire fighting/salvage team and
portable equipment, and later by the tug Carlo Magno of Italian Augustea,
carrying additional salvage experts.
The salvage team led by Smit finally managed to control and extinguish
the fire. In order to further stabilize the vessel and extinguish the
remaining hot spots the convoy set course for the UK coast pending
permission to enter a Western European port.
After an odyssey lasting many weeks authorities from the UK, France,
Belgium and the Netherlands finally cleared passage for Fairmount
Expedition and MSC Flaminia through the English Channel. The convoy
headed for Wilhelmshaven, Germany. On Saturday, September 8, a
special fact finding team of the German Central Commando for Maritime
Emergencies boarded the MSC Flaminia offshore Helgoland. After
inspection the salvage team was allowed to tow the MSC Flaminia into the
Jade-Weser-Port in Wilhelmshaven.
Fairmount Marine is a marine contractor for ocean towage and heavy lift
transportation, headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Fairmount’s
fleet of tugs consists of five modern super tugs of 205 tons bollard pull
each, especially designed for long distance towing, and a multipurpose
support vessel. Fairmount Marine is part of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs
Group.