Chemical Tanker Adrift Off Irish Coast: Tugboat Despatched
The tanker, carrying a 15,000-tonne cargo of caustic soda with 22 crew on board, lost power to its main engines 100 nautical miles off Loop Head while bound for Aughinish in the Shannon Estuary, reports 'The Irish Times'. The tanker, Hellesport Charger, registered in the Marshall Islands, was on a voyage from Corpus Christi in Texas in the western Gulf of Mexico to Aughinish in the Shannon Estuary when it lost power. Sea conditions are said to be rough with a six-metre swell and winds of up to force eight. The ship is not, however, believed to be in danger.
Malta-Registered Ship Engulfed by Flames
The engine room of a Maltese-registered ship transporting chemicals was engulfed by flames off the southwest coast of Ireland, seven and a half miles north of Brandon Head, reported The Irish Times. The fire broke out early on Wednesday morning. The 15 crew members on the 95-metre vessel managed to control the fire. The vessel is now believed to be drifting without power, despite attempts to restart the engine. Two tugboats are on stand-by, awaiting arrangements to bring the vessel ashore. Members of the Coast Guard are at the scene and a specialist crew from the Dublin Fire Brigade were also flown to the area as a safety precaution. The ship had earlier unloaded a cargo of sulphuric acid at Aughinish Island in Co Limerick, according to The Irish Times. Source: MaltaMedia News
