CSCL Indian Ocean Could Be Stuck For Days on Elbe River

CSCL Indian Ocean aground on the Elbe River, February 5, 2016. Photo credit: Central Command for Maritime Emergencies

The CSCL Indian Ocean, one of the world’s biggest containerships, is still stuck on the Elbe River after the giant containership ran aground on its approach to the port of Hamburg late Wednesday night.

Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME) said the focus Friday morning was to continue to remove fuel from the vessel, with crews already pumping 500 cubic meters of heavy fuel oil. Onboard remains 800 tons of fuel oil and 570 tons of gas oil, the CCME said.

Officials are now saying that the ship could be stuck there until Tuesday when crews will have the next chance to refloat the vessel.

There will be no refloat attempts until the fuel removal operation is complete, and forecasts and calculations show the next window of opportunity not until Tuesday morning, CCME said.

Thursday Update: One of World’s Biggest Containerships Hard Aground on Elbe River – AIS REPLAY

The two tugs Dolphin and Boxer, as well as the pollution control vessel Neuwerk remain on site.

The 396.6 meter long CSCL Indian Ocean can carry 19,100 twenty foot containers and is one of five similar ships owned by China Shipping Group.

The ship was sailing from Felixstowe, England. An attempt to refloat the vessel at noon Thursday was unsuccessful.