Monday, August 06, 2012 -
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August 7: No precise position since 5.8.2012 23:00 UTC, assuming MSC Flaminia and tugs keep the same direction and speed, at 24:00 6.8.2012 by dead reckoning they were in the vicinity of 48.30N 009.20W. NSB published a press-release on August 6, saying that “Boarding had not been possible since July 30 2012”, adding that “Smoke emission in cargo hold 7 has declined significantly”. It means fire was burning out by itself for 6 days straight. Weather is to blame, said NSB. Containers on board of MSC Flaminia were on fire without firefighting for some 4 days in July 13 – 17 period and for 6 days in July 30 – August 6 period.
Could the responsible companies, MSC and NSB, direct MSC Flaminia and tugs to sheltered waters somewhere around Europe?
Was is inevitable and necessary to tow MSC Flaminia deep into the stormy Atlantic ocean for at least 5 days straight?
Did the companies do everything possible to tow vessel to sheltered waters and failed, rejected by coastal states authorities?
If they didn’t do it, if “shelter” option was possible but ignored, then, why did they take the Atlantic route? To let the goods burn out and then beat off claims by implying a force majeure cause?
Latest MSC Flaminia news from NSB Niederelbe website:
Buxtehude, August 6 2012
Thanks to improving weather conditions, a team of firefighting experts is able to board MSC FLAMINIA and continue the salvaging efforts today. Boarding had not been possible since July 30 2012. The current measures aim at inspecting areas which had not been accessible so far. Also, data is being collected to calculate and assess the stability of the vessel.
Smoke emission in cargo hold 7 has declined significantly. Temperatures in this area are also dropping again. Currently, no cooling by the accompanying tugboats is necessary. MSC FLAMINIA is still listing by approximately 10 degrees. A decision to enter a sheltered coastal area has still not yet been made.
All the relevant data and photos are published on a page http://www.odin.tc/2012/mscflaminiaen.asp
