The 89 meter long, 3792 dwt freighter Ostgard became disabled after engine failure near the Belle Isle, Bay of Biscay. The crew attempted repairs, but was unable to restart the engine. A salvage tug was dispatched to tow the Ostgard to Saint-Nazaire. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. The Ostgard was en route to Rochefort, France from Sweden with a cargo of lumber.
The 3820 dwt freighter Beaumont went aground in the Bay of Biscay near Aviles, Spain. The Beaumont was approaching the port when it went aground onto the rocks. No reports of injuries to the six crew on board or pollution released. The vessel suffered some damage to a ballast tank. The crew contacted authorities who dispatched a tug to assist in refloating the vessel. The tug was successful with the Beaumont being refloated later the same day during high tide. The Beaumont was towed into Aviles where it docked for repairs. The authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
On December 16, 2011, the 109 meter long, 6605 dwt freighter TK 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 .
