Maritime News Thread

The bulk carrier, V Due, which has smouldering cargo in one of its holds, has docked at the Port of Liverpool.

The vessel had been anchored off the village of Moelfre on the north east coast of Anglesey in north Wales following a fire on 1 December 2016.

A temporary 500-metre exclusion zone had been established around the Maltese-registered bulk carrier until a plan for a place of refuge could be put in place.

Details of the cargo have not been released.

In a statement, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “The Secretary of State’s Representative Maritime & Salvage Hugh Shaw has established a Salvage Control Unit and continues to be in discussion with the port, the ship owners, insurers, SMIT Salvage, UK Coastguard, MCA Counter Pollution, Environment Groups and Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service”

“Hugh Shaw continues to work with all parties while monitoring the safety of the crew and the environmental situation. There has been no pollution and no concerns about the structural integrity as the vessel remains stable.”

According to Marine Traffic, the 181-metre V Due was built in 2005 and has a gross tonnage of 23689.

Officials are drawing up plans for a place of refuge for the bulk carrier, V Due, following a fire on board.

The blaze happened in one of the vessel’s cargo holds on 1 December 2016.

The V Due, which was on passage from Liverpool, is currently anchored off the village of Moelfre on the north east coast of Anglesey in north Wales.

A temporary 500-metre exclusion zone has been established around the vessel.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the Secretary of States Representative, Hugh Shaw, had now established a Salvage Control Unit (SCU) to discuss a place of refuge for the bulk carrier.

The SCU includes representations for the owners of the vessel, insurers, SMIT Salvors, UK Coastguard, MCA Counter Pollution, environment groups and the fire and rescue service.

The MCA said SMIT Salvors had produced a draft outline plan for the passage to port and the subsequent cargo discharge which is the preferred option at this stage.

This will be further developed when an agreement on the place of refuge has been finalised.

The MCA said the V Due remains stable at this time and it has received no reports of any pollution.

Commenting on the matter, Shaw said: “Talks are continuing but I am comfortable with the progress that has been made so far. The vessel is currently stable, ventilation has improved significantly since yesterday and the ship’s crew are safe and well.”

“There is no evidence of any pollution and I will continue to monitor that situation very closely. I have established a Temporary Exclusion Zone (TEZ) of 500m to ensure that access to the vessel is restricted to the ship’s crew and the salvors,” continued the Secretary of States Representative.

He said the SCU would meet on 5 December 2016 to discuss future plans including a suitable port for cargo discharge.

Details of the fire on board the V Due have not been released.

The 181-metre bulk carrier is registered in Malta