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Burned cargo ship hunting for a port

Published: 9 Aug 12 15:48 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20120809-44263.html

A stricken German cargo ship that was on fire for several weeks is now being towed aimlessly around the Atlantic Ocean because no European port will allow it to dock. The German owners are losing patience.

"I think it's ridiculous that a ship sailing under a German flag in this situation can't get permission from countries in the European community," said Helmut Ponath, head of the shipping company NSB, on Thursday.

Fire broke out on the appropriately named "MSC Flaminia" for unknown reasons in mid-July, when it was en route from Charleston, US, to Antwerp, Belgium.

One sailor was killed while another is still missing. The rest of the crew and two passengers were successfully rescued. The huge boat was floating around in the ocean unmanned and ablaze for some time until salvage workers were able to get aboard.

The fire has now been brought under control. The shipping company says the situation on board is stable, but there could still be small fires in individual containers.

Salvage workers have been on board in the past few days, though they have been hindered by bad weather. Ponath said that salvage work would be difficult unless the ship finds a port.

The Local/DAPD

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

05:35 August 10, 2012 by coffeelover
What happened to "Any port in a bad storm"? Is this Europe's real problem now, not willing to help? Feel free to educate me, an avowed "landlubber", but I will not pass a disabled vehicle without stopping to help in my limited way, on a highway, or street.
08:08 August 10, 2012 by mayitoh
Spain, Italy, Greece, Ireland, Portugal..... all of them have a lot of sea ports. All of them owe a lot of money to Germany......... What's up???....Here your are in your faces Germans, how you have been foolished....... What is the EUROPEAN UNION good for?...... What is the meaning to be a "member" of the European Union, Merkel?.... Only to send NATO to fight weak-azz countries like Libya (NATO does not miss with the Big Dogs)...... The European Union, Merkel-political-project, It will be ONLY good to spend German's people pension money, nothing else!

Instead Merkel spending and giving away the pension money and wealthy from Germans people jeopardizing the future of the country in behalf a political project, it will be better Germany off to get OUT from the European Union and then; with this "money" to pay whoever country which has a sea port for technical assistance..... a fact in your face that the European Union is a TOTAL failure.
11:51 August 10, 2012 by raandy
A large cargo vessel that is or was or still is on fire ,creates a major risk for the Port Authority.

I would assume if the vessel could guarantee the fire was totally out by posting a bond to that effect their refusals of entry may change.

but I doubt that will happen,

Maybe they should send another vessel to take off the containers ,unload all the cargo and have a qualified inspection team sent on site to verify the fire is out and the vessel is not a risk for others while in port.

This would most likely be expensive and not what the owners would like to see happen.
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