Damaged container vessel towed back to Germany
03 September 2012
The fire-damaged container ship MSC Flaminia, held 20 miles off the Cornish coast for the last five weeks, is being towed to Germany. The vessel was inspected by a team of six salvage specialists and was confirmed to be safe to be towed by tugs, UK coastguards said.
The MSC Flaminia is being towed up the channel to a port in Germany
The ship, owned by Reederei NSB, caught fire in the mid-Atlantic on 14 July.
One crew member died, another is missing presumed dead and another is being treated for serious burns.
The remaining crew of 23, five Germans, three Poles and 15 Filipinos, and two passengers were rescued unharmed.
The 85,823-tonne vessel was laden with a cargo of 2,876 containers, 149 being classed as dangerous goods, said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
A spokeswoman said: "While the MSC Flaminia suffered considerable damage, environmental assessments have shown no pollution. An international independent inspection team, with representatives from the UK, France and Germany, went on board the vessel last Tuesday."
She added inspectors were "completely satisfied" the vessel is in a "safe and stable condition" to make the journey to Germany, which is expected to take five days.