The 110 meter long, 5858 dwt chemical tanker Amaranth became disabled near Brest, France. The tanker was en route to Gdansk, Poland from Safi, Morocco when it suffered engine failure. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. The vessel proceeded to Brest for repairs.
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 .
The 15 meter long fishing vessel Haura sank off Mimizan, France. The Haura had struck an object in the water which punctured the hull. The fishing vessel quickly flooded causing the crew to immediately send out a distress call. The three crew on board abandoned ship to the life raft. The crew fired off a distress flare to direct the fishing vessel Santa Rita II to locate their life raft. The crew was safely rescued and were taken to St. Jean de Luz. No reports of injuries.
