MV Emsstrom, a former German Naval training ship, which was on its way from Germany to Turkey, towed by tug Christos 22 sank on Monday, January 14, approximately 2.5 nautical miles east by north from Hopes Nose, Torquay, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency updated.
Accordingly, the tug slowed to inspect a potential malfunction when it was hit by the ship that it was towing.
Crews from two Royal Navy ships helped prevent the tug from sinking on the evening of January 13 in a dramatic rescue off the Devon coast. Sailors from HMS Lancaster and HMS Severn struggled to pump out tons of water to prevent it sinking into the Channel.
By daybreak a salvage tug was on the scene with specialist divers ready to patch up the damaged tug, while another vessel had taken the Emstrom in tow. Nevertheless, the ship had been listing too heavily for salvors to get onboard which lead to the vessel’s sinking.
It has been reported that MV Emsstrom tug is empty and is not a pollution risk.
At a meeting yesterday afternoon chaired by Hugh Shaw, Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention, some decisions were made concerning the future plans regarding the sunken wreck MV Emsstrom. Hugh Shaw said:
“At the meeting yesterday, we made some decisions to enable us to move forward with all interested parties in regards to the wreck. There are many interested parties and further assessments and inspections will have to take place before any final decisions are taken.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Her Majesty’s Coastguard, the Royal Navy, the RNLI, Maritime and Towage Services Torbay, Torbay Council and Harbour Authorities for the professional manner in which this incident was swiftly dealt with.”
Captain Paul Labistour, Harbour Master Torbay Council said:
“We had a very positive meeting yesterday, and all relevant stakeholders have worked well together towards a positive outcome. There is a temporary exclusion zone of 500m around the wreck. Trinity House vessels MV Alert and MV Patricia have commenced survey and bouyage operations.”
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 16, 2013; Image: Royal Navy