Work is underway on the salvage operations of the M/V Fedra, the cargo ship that literally broke in two after being pinned against the cliffs of Europa Point in Gibraltar back in October. Lloyds List has the details of the operation:
The tugs Warrior and Neftegaz 57 have secured tow lines to the hull and are making the best of high spring tides to try and pull the ship off the rocky seabed.
The operation has been under way on and off for three days but section is still holding fast despite retaining significant buoyancy.
Once it is freed, it will be towed into deeper water on the east side of Gibraltar where divers will carry out an underwater survey.
Having carried out the survey, the section will be towed into the port of Gibraltar and will most likely be scrapped at the Cammell Laird shipyard.
The yard will also dismantle the Fedra’s accommodation block, which was cut off from the stern section earlier this month and ferried into port by floating crane Taklift 6.
The remainder of the stern section lies pinned at the base of sheer cliffs and will require a separate removal operation that has yet to commence.
Luckily, all 31 of its crew were eventually pulled to safety. In reporting on this incident, one of the most memorable things was all the interesting and dramatic photos and videos that were circulating around the internet. You can see gCaptain’s full coverage of this incident by using the Fedra tag HERE.
Maritime Photographer David Parody shot these photos of the M/V Fedra aground at Gibraltar. Play the entire slideshow and you will also get to view his photography of the M/V New Flame sinking in the Straight Of Gibraltar early this year. The full size HD version of this slideshow can be seen HERE.
This photo was taken today by Ship Spotter Adrian Perera near Gibraltar. Lloyds List tells us:
EMERGENCY services from Gibraltar and Spain mounted a joint operation last night to save 31 seafarers whose cargo ship, the M/V Fedra, ran aground against Europa Point in severe weather.
By 10.30pm on Friday night three men had been airlifted off by a Spanish rescue helicopter and the rest were huddled on the bow of the vessel awaiting rescue.
But with the ship pounded by waves in the dark, the high winds made the helicopter evacuation both extremely dangerous and difficult.
The 24-year old Liberian old cargo ship Fedra was pinned against the sheer cliffs of Europa Point and the sound of steel grinding against limestone cut through howling gusts of wind of up to 83 km per hour.
The drama started late yesterday morning when the vessel suffered engine failure late and dragged its anchor until it came perilously close to the shore. Read More…
For more dramatic photos of this incident click HERE.
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