Sète (South France)-Colombo (Sri Lanka): the mad escape of the Odeep One
July 30, 2021. 12 h
The dilapidated vessel targeted by the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control escaped from Sète on Friday, July 23, with the complicity of the port. The Odeep One caused in her flight 2 oil pollutions in the port basins and at the exit of the channel. The Ship Safety Centre (SSC) based in Sète was not informed of this departure. Yesterday, July 29, the Odeep One has refuelled in Maltese territorial waters and is now heading for Colombo (Sri Lanka). Close monitoring of the Odeep One‘s trajectory between Sète and Malta by Robin des Bois and other specialists has shown that she is facing mechanical problems. Her average speed is 5 to 6 knots with phases at one or 2 knots.
The Russian tanker will be scrapped in Brest
The Russian tanker Varzuga left Murmansk in tow of the Christos XXIV for a shipbreaking yard in Aliaga, Turkey, on April 17, 2021. She should finally arrive in Brest on the evening of Saturday, July 10, in tow of the VB Gascogne. The operation is being monitored by the Channel and North Sea Prefecture. It recommended the towing to be carried out during a favourable weather window with wave heights of less than one metre.
Container ships are bombs (bis)
A fireball and shock waves felt up to 25 km from Jebel Ali Port, near Dubai, United Arab Emirates, woke up and worried residents on the evening of Wednesday July 7, 2021. Firefighters responded to prevent the fire from spreading to other vessels, in particular the GFS Giselle, a 240 m long container ship.
Container ships are bombs (bis)
A fireball and shock waves felt up to 25 km from Jebel Ali Port, near Dubai, United Arab Emirates, woke up and worried residents on the evening of Wednesday July 7, 2021. Firefighters responded to prevent the fire from spreading to other vessels, in particular the GFS Giselle, a 240 m long container ship.
What future for the Christos XXIV and the Varzuga ?
Update June 18, 2021
The Christos XXIV returned to sea on Tuesday 15 June at 5pm heading to Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain). The 50 year old tug, her 8 Filipino sailors and her 2 Greek officers stayed in Le Havre for 1 month and 8 days.
The Christos XXIV left alone, leaving the Varzuga at Joannès Couvert wharf. Discussions are still ongoing between the owner of the old Russian ship, the maritime authorities and a French demolition yard. The Varzuga will have to be accompanied in the demolition yard by her green passport, which she lacked when she left Murmansk. The green passport is a map with an estimate of the quantities of hazardous materials on the ship at the end of her life.
The Varzuga’s detention should end within 10-15 days.
Like beasts in substandard ships
The report “78 EU-approved livestock carriers” written by Robin des Bois in partnership with the NGOs Animal Welfare Foundation and Tierschutzbund Zürich is more than damning. It is sharp.
