- Bulk carrier Sea Hermes reported propulsion failure in English Channel north of Cape Gris-Nez, Pas-de-Calais, France.
- SAR ship Abeille Languedoc was designated to tow bulk carrier to UK waters.
- French pilot and a standby Captain from Abeille Languedoc were transferred on board of bulk carrier by helicopter, with reasons unknown.
Marshall Islands flagged bulk carrier Sea Hermes suffers propulsion failure, reports Nikolay Torkin for Maritime Bulletin.
Bulk carrier disabled
Bulk carrier Sea Hermes reported propulsion failure at 2030 UTC February 22 in English Channel north of Cape Gris-Nez, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Attempts to fix the problem by crew means ended in vain. SAR ship Abeille Languedoc was designated to tow bulk carrier to UK waters.
At around 0100 UTC February 23, French pilot and a standby Captain from Abeille Languedoc were transferred on board of bulk carrier by helicopter.
The specific circumstances that demanded deployment of pilot and Captain from another ship remains unclear.
Salvage operations
Towage commenced at 0840 UTC February 23. The pilot was taken off the ship by helicopter, and the standby Captain remained on board.
At 1330 UTC February 23, both ships were laying dead in water east of Dover UK, Abeille Languedoc apparently disengaged from towing. Probably, the bulk carrier is in process of anchoring.
Bulk carrier Sea Hermes is en route from Argentina to Gdynia Poland.
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Source: Maritime Bulletin
