The Story:
Salvage Control Unit officials are drawing up plans for a place of refuge for the fire ravaged bulk carrier V-Due.
What happened?
On 1st December, a blaze occurred in one of the vessel’s cargo hold when the ship was en route from Liverpool when the incident occurred. The vessel is currently anchored off the village of Moelfre on the north east coast of Anglesey in north Wales.
Exclusion zone:
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the Secretary of State’s Representative, Hugh Shaw, has now established a Salvage Control Unit (SCU) to discuss a place of refuge for the bulk carrier.
A temporary 500-metre exclusion zone has been set up around the vessel.
The SCU includes representations for the owners of the vessel, insurers, SMIT Salvors, UK Coastguard, MCA Counter Pollution, environment groups and the fire and rescue service.
The MCA said SMIT Salvors had produced a draft outline plan for the passage to port and the subsequent cargo discharge which is the preferred option at this stage.
The damaged bulk carrier remains stable as of now and no reports of any pollution have been reported.
Commenting on the matter, Shaw said: “Talks are continuing but I am comfortable with the progress that has been made so far. The vessel is currently stable, ventilation has improved significantly since yesterday and the ship’s crew are safe and well.”
“There is no evidence of any pollution and I will continue to monitor that situation very closely. I have established a Temporary Exclusion Zone (TEZ) of 500m to ensure that access to the vessel is restricted to the ship’s crew and the salvors,” continued the Secretary of States Representative.
Further discussions:
The members of SCU have decided to meet on 5th December 2016 to discuss future plans including a suitable port for cargo discharge.
Further plans are being drawn up to decide a place of refuge for the damaged bulk carrier.
Details of the fire on board the V Due have not been released.
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Source: Yachting and Boating World
