Germany has agreed to provide a place of refuge for the badly fire-damaged container ship, 'Flaminia', which has been waiting in the Atlantic for more than two weeks to be given shelter in EU waters.
The vessel's German manager, Reederei NSB, said on Thursday that it would be brought into the port of Wilhelmshaven after a spell at an anchorage in the German Bight, 12 nautical miles west off the Heligoland islands off Germany's North Sea coast.
The vessel is expected to be brought into Wilhelmshaven's new Jade Weser Port container facility following the completion of operations to make sure it presents no safety or environmental risk.
Before then, however, it will need to be inspected by a multi-national team of salvage and safety experts to ensure that it is safe to transit the English Channel.
Reederei NSB said on Thursday that the vessel was heading for British territorial waters and was expected to reach a point some 40 nautical miles south of Land's End on Friday when it would be boarded by the inspection team.
Chief executive Helmut Ponath, who said two weeks ago that it was "shocking" that the ship had not been given permission to enter an EU port, said this week that he was relieved that the salvage operation was once again proceeding.
"To us this indicates that our company's philosophy is right and the German flag pays off," he said.
Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies broke the international deadlock over reception of the damaged vessel on Monday when it announced that it was ready to bring the ship into German waters.
It said that, as the vessel's flag state, Germany accepted that it was its responsibility to ensure that the ship was dealt with safely.
"It is in the interests of the Federal Republic to ensure that the vessel is seaworthy and to prevent the ship and its cargo from endangering the environment," said the organisation's head, Hans Werner Monsees.
Fire broke out in the number four cargo hold of the 6,750TEU 'Flaminia' while it was on its way from US Gulf port of Charleston to Antwerp in Belgium on July 14. Crew were fighting the fire when an explosion occurred.
One seafarer died as a result of injuries sustained in the explosion and another was reported missing. A third is still in a critical condition in hospital after suffering burns.
Two other crewmembers were transported to hospital in the Azores for treatment but have since been released. The 18 other crewmembers and two passengers were picked up the tanker DS
Crown after abandoning ship following the explosion.
There was a second explosion aboard the vessel four days later but, according to NSB, the vessel's hull has remained intact, as have its superstructure, engine room, stern and forecastle. Cargo holds four, five and six have been demolished by the fire and explosions, however, and the vessel has been listing about ten degrees as a result of the damage to its cargo and the weight of the water used to extinguish the fire.
It is not known what caused the original fire aboard the vessel, although it is known that the vessel is carrying some potentially dangerous substances.
French environmental organisation Robin des Bois called on Thursday for checks that there were no radioactive materials aboard the vessel.
Andrew Spurrier
Image Source: Cedar Posts
