Under the coordination of the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, MSC Flaminia will be towed to sheltered anchorage in German waters. Subsequently, the vessel will be transferred to a port. While anchoring, experts (firefighters, chemists and engineers) will determine which hazards might emanate from the vessel and its cargo. Only afterwards a decision to which port the vessel will be towed, can be made.
A first observation of vessel and cargo will be conducted by British, Dutch and French experts on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency once MSC Flaminia approaches the vicinity of the English Channel on the coming weekend.
German Flag Pays Off
"We are glad that after the assignment to the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, the salvage of our MSC FLAMINIA is finally proceeding. To us this indicates that our company’s philosophy is right and the German flag pays off," Helmut Ponath, CEO of Reederei NSB, said on a joint press conference in Bremerhaven.
Salvage to Take up to Two Months
MSC Flaminia and its accompanying group of tugs are currently located approximately 350 nautical miles off the entrance to the English Channel. The ship is expected to reach a so-called sheltered area in German territorial waters in the week after the next. The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies estimates that the complete salvage operation will take up to two months. During the fire and subsequent explosion on July 14, 2012, which occurred during the vessel’s passage from Charleston/USA to Bremerhaven (via Antwerp and Felixstowe), one seafarer had died and one is still missing. A third seafarer remains in critical condition and is treated in a specialty hospital for burn wounds. The crew had abandoned the burning vessel and was rescued by an oil tanker.
Picture: MSC Flaminia in the morning of 13 August 2012. In this picture, the damage to cargo holds 4, 5 and 6 as well as to the hull of the ship is clearly visible. In addition, smoke emission is discernable in cargo hold 7 (source: Reederei NSB).
