Two Days After Collision, Capsized Cargo Ship Arrives Pier Side in Le Havre

Photo: Marine Nationale

The wreck of the cargo ship Britannica HAV has been tied to a dock at the port of Le Havre now two days after the ship capsized after a collision with a fishing vessel.

The capsized vessel was towed in Thursday by the emergency tug Abeille Liberté with a convoy of escort vessels.

The 82-meter Britannica HAV capsized on March 20 after colliding with the fishing vessel Deborah in the English Channel approximately 50 nautical miles northeast of Cherbourg, France. All seven crew members of the cargo ship abandoned ship in a liferaft and were picked up by the fishing vessel.

With the vessel completely inverted, the Abeille Liberté had to connect the tow line through the bow thruster tunnel, which allowed it to be towed.

Meanwhile, four giant plates that were lost from the cargo ship, thought to be the hatch covers, are still afloat in the same general area as where the collision occurred. The covers are being monitored by vessel on-site and French officials say the ship owner has arranged for two tugs from the Netherlands to tow them to Le Havre.

The Maltese-flagged Britannica HAV was loaded with 1,955 tonnes of steel and had 48 tonnes of light diesel fuel on board when it collided with the Belgian-flagged fishing vessel Deborah. According to reports, the cargo ship was damaged on its port side around amidships. 

Amazingly, no major pollution or injuries have resulted from the incident. 

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