The 292 meter long, 177996 dwt bulk freighter Flash ran aground in the Mediterranean Sea near the Galite Islands, Tunisia. The freighter was en route to Taranto from Baltimore with 126,000 metric tonnes of coal when it struck bottom. The Flash suffered structural damage to multiple ballast tanks along with the engine room. No reports of injuries to the 23 crew on board and no pollution has been released. Salvagers plan to pump out the fuel and lighter some of the coal cargo before attempting to refloat the Flash. Malta authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident.
On December 16, 2011, the 109 meter long, 6605 dwt freighterTK Bremen went ashore in the Bay of Biscay along the Quiberon peninsula near Etel River, France. After an inspection of the vessel, the damage was too severe and salvage was not cost effective. Thus, a scrapping operation began onsite where the freighter was beached. The greatest concern to scrapping the vessel was to avoid any environmental damage as the TK Bremen rested in a nature reserve. Scrapping began in earnest after workers removed the remaining 220 tons of fuel oil still within the vessel’s tanks. Forty workers spent two-weeks around the clock to dismantle the vessel. By January 23, 2012, the TK Bremen had been reduced to scrap metal leaving just a small section of the bow in the water. Special machines were brought in to recover any smaller pieces of metal which was completed in February. By April, the beach was restored back near to its natural state before the operations began. Reports state the cost of scrapping and removing the freighter was over 10,000,000 euros .
The 56 meter long freighter Jireh ran aground near Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The vessel loaded with 100 migrants passengers was en route to St. Martin when it struck a reef. Some 80 passengers swam ashore to the island with the remaining passengers staying on board.
Monito Island as seen from offshore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Coast Guard Watchstanders immediately launched an Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to the scene and notified federal and state agencies of the situation. The Coast Guard Cutter Cushing is currently on scene assessing the situation, rendering assistance and accounting for all the people who remain on board the vessel.
At this time no signs of pollution have been detected in the water. Coast Guard pollution response personnel are responding as rapidly as possible and will be arriving on scene Thursday to conduct a more thorough assessment.
Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents, Puerto Rico Police Joint Force of Rapid Action and Puerto Rico Department of Natural & Environmental Resources marine units are coordinating to determine a plan of action to transfer the vessel passengers from Mona Island, while the Coast Guard is also coordinating with federal and local agencies to assess any environmental impact that may have been caused by the grounding of the vessel.
