Freighter Aground Because her Anchors Dragged

[smackdaddy]

For a second I thought that was the same ship that rescued Puma in the VOR a few weeks ago. This was TK Bremen, the other was Team Bremen.

Interesting.

[ljsailing]

My thoughts exactly on the helo use.

[1000 islands]

I wonder how they plan to get the ship off the beach

[conachair]

Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

Looks like too late to get previous track.

A friend posted this from la Rochelle

There are three of us Brits here on boats and I have never seen winds like last night. They have eased this morning to probably 5's which now seems like a summers day.
We are all ok and thank you all for your concerns.
I have five flat fenders and a ripped binicle cover which seems the only damage.
I am just going out to check on the others but they seem OK.
We were advised by a French couple when we came in what side of the pontoon to take just incase there was a strong wind and that really did help.
I know I need a new barometer after the lowest it got was fair to change and last night was well down the mid 900's somewhere.
We are all up the river behind the lock and more in the city which makes us less exposed and protected from the sea and the buildings do help. Even so the boat was being blow to huge angles and I have 5 tons of lead in the keel.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Is It just me or were they wasting a huge amount of money with that helo. I would think that some cargo nets over the dry side of the boat would have been an easy way to evacuate the ship. Worst case rescuers could have got some rappelling gear to the crew. Of course they did have cranes as well.

I may be wrong, but I beleive for a French Helicopter that the owners will be getting a bill....same for ship as for a yacht.

[conachair]

Check out here from a storm last year to see what biscay in a bad mood can do.

[S/V Alchemy]

I'm having difficulty imagining how the above photo happened without all the other boats around it (and the docks) being physically pulled to pieces.

The only thing that makes sense was that the boat actually became airborne and dropped vertically onto the post. I've been in bad weather, but not that bad, or even possibly that bad. Maybe a tornado? And yet the rigging's intact. Weird.

Nice job securing the mainsail sheet and the jib...I guess...

[Me-and-Boo]

Originally Posted by conachair

Check out here from a storm last year to see what biscay in a bad mood can do.

That is one tough way to drain the bilge.

[Hydra]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

I'm having difficulty imagining how the above photo happened without all the other boats around it (and the docks) being physically pulled to pieces.

The only thing that makes sense was that the boat actually became airborne and dropped vertically onto the post. I've been in bad weather, but not that bad, or even possibly that bad. Maybe a tornado? And yet the rigging's intact. Weird.

Nice job securing the mainsail sheet and the jib...I guess...

In fact, it was a "storm tide" created by storm Xynthia, last year: the water level at high tide, combined with the low pressure in the depression and the waves from the storm, exceeded the height of the pillar.

Many people were drowned in their houses when the dykes were submerged, then breached.

Just like a hurricane in the US.

Alain

[atoll]

Originally Posted by conachair

Check out here from a storm last year to see what biscay in a bad mood can do.

great way of advertising the marina,a bit like in medeivel times when vendors signs depicted there whares.......sort of marine equvalent of a barbers pole....

hope they kept it there an remumerated the owners accordingly.............

PS great way of using up all those boats that never leave the dock.........

[Hydra]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Is It just me or were they wasting a huge amount of money with that helo. I would think that some cargo nets over the dry side of the boat would have been an easy way to evacuate the ship. Worst case rescuers could have got some rappelling gear to the crew. Of course they did have cranes as well.

The video doesn't show the actual rescue: it happened at 3am, during the storm. And if the waves were powerful enough to push the ship on the beach, the "dry" side wasn't so dry. The grounding happened at low tide. Then, the ship kept climbing on the beach for a few hours. IMO, not a good idea to be on the ship side at that time.

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

I may be wrong, but I beleive for a French Helicopter that the owners will be getting a bill....same for ship as for a yacht.

In fact, there is nothing to pay for rescue of life at sea. Even if the ship was within 300m of shore, meaning that the mayor of Erdeven would theoretically be in charge of organizing the rescue, the operation was directed by CROSS Etel (Etel MRCC).

But the owner will pay for removing the hull, in addition to a big fine for the pollution.

Alain

[atoll]

now if it was in cornwall the local inhabitants would have removed most of the cargo and siphoned off the fuel by now!!!!!!! thus preventing an ecological disaster,and making for a very merry xmas.......

[Hydra]

Alas, the ship was on ballast. And she is now guarded by the Gendarmerie (French military police). One gendarme told me he has been on duty for 2 days and 2 nights (hopefully with some rest in between).

However, operations are in progress to remove the fuel through a hose suspended to a cable, just like underway replenishment.

Alain

[SteveT]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Is It just me or were they wasting a huge amount of money with that helo. I would think that some cargo nets over the dry side of the boat would have been an easy way to evacuate the ship. Worst case rescuers could have got some rappelling gear to the crew. Of course they did have cranes as well.

Sorry but it is just you - Once she goes aground she would lose her cooling water which means she'd have no power so cranes etc would be dead. Also when something goes that badly wrong the easiest and safest way by far to evacuate any vessel is via Helicopter if there is one available. There are a number of SAR helicopters dedicated to doing just that.

Whenever a commercial vessel goes aground or has any serious incident there is always a full enquiry so I'd hold off on casting blame all over until the FACTS are known. With oil on the beaches there is no way the French will let it be swept under a carpet. The Master is probably looking at jail time or at least a substantial fine regardless of how much to blame he personally is.

I apologise if I sound grumpy here but as a professional seaman myself I get a bit snarly when folks start making wild assed guesses about something we mainly know nothing about.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Hydra

In fact, it was a "storm tide" created by storm Xynthia, last year: the water level at high tide, combined with the low pressure in the depression and the waves from the storm, exceeded the height of the pillar.

Many people were drowned in their houses when the dykes were submerged, then breached.

Just like a hurricane in the US.

Alain

While I understand the concept, I have trouble reconciling that picture with the sight of calmly moored boats behind it and the otherwise intact dock. It's as if the boat was flung or dropped on that piling. Extraordinary.