Damage to the MSC Flaminia is obvious after being rocked by two separate explosions. The vessel sat off the coast of the UK for nearly a month while awaiting permission to access any European port to undergo repairs. Photo: Reederei NSB.
The damaged MSC FLAMINIA has started its trek back to German waters where the ship will eventually undergo salvage operations, the vessel’s management company says.
Germany’s NSB Reederei said Monday that the crippled MSC FLAMINIA and her accompanying group of tugs left her holding position just south of Land’s End on Sunday and are now making way through the English Channel.
The MSC FLAMINIA was finally granted permission to transit the English Channel once it was confirmed that all fires had been extinguished, the stability and firmness of the vessel had been confirmed and deemed safe once more by class society Germanischer Lloyd, and all involved coastal states of the English Channel (i.e. Great Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands) had granted permission.
MSC FLAMINIA’s English Channel passage is being assisted by the tug FAIRMOUNT EXPEDITION (of Fairmount Marine), the ANGLIAN SOVEREIGN (of L. P. Knight), and CARLO MAGNO (of Augustea S.A.), which have all been with the vessel since not long after the initial explosion. The transit of the English Channel is expected to take five days.
NSB Reederei reports that superstructure of the MSC FLAMINIA is intact and usable and that the steering gear and energy supply on board has been re-established.
Salvage efforts are being led by crews from Smit Salvage.
Read: PREVIOUS MSC FLAMINIA UPDATES
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