(Français) L’archipel des Tuamotu, Polynésie Française, au péril de 500 t de fioul et de 20.000 t de poudre de zinc
Goodbye Deborah
The bow of the Belgian trawler bears the traces of the ramming for which she is responsible. Deborah cut like a blade the left side of the Hav Britannica. The 4 hold hatches went adrift, several tons of fuel too. From the very first moment, under French jurisdiction waters were at risk. At the time, the regional and professional press unanimously relying on official sources wrote that it was too late for a towing of the overturned wreck of the Maltese cargo ship.
The Before, After and Why of a Shipwreck in the English Channel – n°2
Robin des Bois approves the safety decision of the maritime prefect of the Channel and North Sea to carry out with the Abeille Liberté an attempt to tow the overturned wreck of the Britannica Hav towards Le Havre harbour.
The Before, After and Why of a Shipwreck in the English Channel
On the morning of 18 March 2018, the Belgian trawler Deborah (photo n°1) goes fishing in the Channel shipping lane, followed by more than 70,000 merchant ships and 500 million tonnes of hazardous cargos each year, a little as if a collector of greasy papers and mushrooms was working day and night on a motorway or at the edge of the emergency strip.
The Modern Express: uprighted but not right
The Modern Express was uprighted on February 22. “For the purposes of the investigation,” the Spanish authorities denied access to the experts, ship-owners, charterers and their representatives until February 26.
Technically speaking, the Modern Express is a roll-on roll-off ship -Pure Car and Truck Carrier- in other words, it is only used for transporting rolling stock.
The Modern Express was loaded with 3600 tons of timber (or 4089 tons according to other sources), divided into four types: okan, azobe, tali and construction machinery. The exotic timbers should have been unloaded in Le Havre and was meant to be sent to European companies.
Modern Express: The burden of timber
Press Release Modern Express no. 5.
According to her charterer, the Modern Express was carrying 3600 tons of sawn timber. The director of ERL France highlights that car and other rolling stock carriers are not adequate for the transportation of logs (1).
Are the vessels of the category of the Modern Express adapted to the transport of wood bundles? If timber bundles are not strapped and lashed properly in the garage decks, they can break off and tip over. Consequently, thousands of tons of sawn timber can accumulate at one side of the vessel and can induce an irreversible list.
Modern Express: Are there any stowaways on board?
Press Release Modern Express no.3
Track records suggest that stowaways wishing to immigrate and access to northern European ports try to board in West African ports, with or without the complicity of port agents and crew.
The French ports that are mostly targeted with such often tragic attempts are Marseille, Sète, la Rochelle, Nantes-Saint Nazaire, le Havre and Rouen.
Owendo timber port in Gabon – the departure port of the Modern Express – is known to be a gathering place for immigrants coming from a number of West African countries and trying to get to Europe.
Where is she going?
Press Release Modern Express no.2
The amended European Union Directive of June 27, 2002 asks all member States to establish plans to accomodate ships in distress in their ports or in any other protected area in the best possible conditions.
The Modern Express is currently under tow and is heading further out to sea. It is understandable that the French maritime authorities initially wish to keep her away from an inhospitable coastline.
Nevertheless, in order to avoid a shipwreck in the middle of the sea, or a potential sinking of the vessel in the Bay of Biscay, it is essential to designate a place of refuge where the salvage teams could benefit from better weather and technical conditions necessary to correct the list of the Modern Express. The vessel is currently in waters under French jurisdiction.
