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.
Risks of Oil Spill in the North Sea
The death and disappearance of 11 sailors from the Baltic Ace car-carrier after colliding with the container ship Corvus J in the North Sea will be followed by an oil spill. After the tragic human casualties will follow environmental damage. The Baltic Ace wreck contains several tons of propulsion fuel oil and diesel oil. Each of the 1417 cars transported contain around 5 liters of fuel.
A similar accident that happened 10 years ago off Dunkirk had provoked oil sheens around the wreck, 2 days after the sinking of the Tricolor car-carrier. Two months later the assessment of the oiled birds was 5,200 in the north of France, 12,000 in Belgium, and 2,000 in the Netherlands. The coasts of Belgium, Flanders, Calaisis, Boulonnais, the Somme Bay and Normandy have been polluted by hydrocarbons released by the wreck. The nuclear plants in Penly in Normandy and in Gravelines in the north of France have been placed on alert because of the risk of hydrocarbons arriving in the cooling waters.
Today, it would be prudent if the Borssele nuclear plant in the Netherlands adopted the same procedures.
