Anglian Sovereign News

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. abandoned by her crew at the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. disabled vessel to render assistance. severe risk of explosions. from UK’s J.P. carrying additional salvage experts. the fire. permission to enter a Western European port. Expedition and MSC Flaminia through the English Channel. headed for Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

Vessel has been towed closer to the UK coast, but adverse weather prevents boarding of safety experts. MSC FLAMINIA and its accompanying tug boats FAIRMOUNT EXPEDITION (Fairmount Marine) and ANGLIAN SOVEREIGN (L.P. Knight) have arrived on the southwestern coast of the UK. The planned safety inspection [regarding pernission to pass through the English Channel & other European waters en route towards Wilhelmshaven, Germany] will be conducted as soon as weather conditions make possible a secure transfer of the experts onboard the vessel.

The casualty is under tow towards British territorial waters & permission to enter, thence transit towards German port of Wilhelmshaven. MSC FLAMINIA and its accompanying tug boats FAIRMOUNT EXPEDITION (Fairmount Marine) and ANGLIAN SOVEREIGN (L.P. Knight) are bound for a position 40 nm south of the western-most point of the UK, Land's End. On arrival at that position a team of experts consisting of dangerous goods specialists, chemists and salvage experts will conduct a safety inspection onboard the vessel. Together with experts from the UK, France and the Netherlands its condition and its cargo will be reviewed to ensure a safe passage through the English Channel.

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 will permission to make a port call be obtained. It is currently unsure which port the vessel will call at first. 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 on 25, July 2012 was situated 320 nautical miles off the coast of the UK.

The owners inform that  firefighting tugboat Fairmount Expedition owned by Fairmount Marine has begun to tow MSC Flaminia towards Europe. Simultaneously, firefighting tugboat Anglian Sovereign (L.P. Knight) continues to cool the fire. The tugboat Carlo Magno (Augustea S.A.) accompanies the group on standby. The container ship's own firefighting system is especially cooling the area in front of the superstructure. Due to the extinguishing water and damaged cargo, MSC Flaminia is listing by 10 degrees.

Three tugboats with fire-fighting ability are on the scene. After the arrival of the second firefighting tugboat, Anglian Sovereign, a party of four salvage specialists  boarded MSC Flaminia, and were able to reactivate the ship's own firefighting system, which is now operating in support of the fire-fighting tugs' efforts. Due to damaged cargo and extinguishing water the ship is listing by 8.5 degrees. The extent of the damage onboard MSC Flaminia is considerable. Cargo holds 4, where the fire originated from, as well as holds 5 and 6 are demolished.