Wednesday, August 15, 2012 -
10:27:00 PM -
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August 16: MSC Flaminia and tugs for the last 24 hours with known positions dated 14.8.12 03:18 and 15.8.12 02:25 UTC moved some 60 nautical miles in western direction, at last known position general course was 280 deg, speed 5.4 knots. NSB immediately reacted to my news dated August 15 with a press-release explaining the reason of sailing in western direction. It’s interesting to note, that some of the NSB press-releases were published right after my news apparently as the answers to my allegations. If not for my news, would they bother with press-releases at all, I wonder?
As for my allegations, it’s true, they’re allegations, though based on facts and as such, they’ are not just wild guesses. Coastal States may be afraid of the structural damages which may lead to cracks and broken hull, as was the case with MSC Napoli in year 2007 in Lyme Bay, UK. But facts say MSC Flaminia is stable, or at least was, so unless all those responsible for the vessel will drag her around in the Atlantic until she’ll finally develop structural damages, the grounds of the refuge denial will still remain a mystery.
Anyway, whatever are the real reasons behind the already quite unique salvage operation, MSC and NSB have nobody to blame for the allegations and accusations, except themselves. They publish inadequate and too scanty updates, and they treat their clients in a most objectionable manner. They’re lucky major media have other more hot topics at their hands right now, but major media are an unpredictable beast, they may get bored soon, with the closing of the Olympic Games, and start looking for a new prey.
Voytenko Mikhail
Buxtehude, August 15 2012
There is still no permission for MSC FLAMINIA to enter a sheltered area or a subsequent emergency port. Reederei NSB and the salvage company both remain in contact with all littoral states to acquire this permission.
At the same time, MSC FLAMINIA and its accompanying group of tugs have taken a position over 400 nautical miles west of the entrance of The English Channel to avoid bad weather and the expected swell. Since the coming days are projected to bring deteriorating weather conditions, the group has set a northwesterly course to an area where less swell is expected. Its speed is 4.5 knots.
A significant impairment of the stability of MSC FLAMINIA due the expected wave height cannot be excluded and is observed apprehensively. In the meantime, Reederei NSB has declared general average for the vessel.
Full story with chronology, photos and maps at http://www.odin.tc/2012/mscflaminiaen.asp
