Maritime News Thread

An 82-meter long cargo ship has capsized and is now turned over and adrift in the English Channel after it collided with a fishing vessel on Tuesday.



France’s Maritime Prefect says it was alerted at 15:40 local time of a collision involving the Maltese-flagged freighter Britannica HAV and the fishing Deborah, flying the Belgian flag. The collision occurred about 50 nautical miles northeast of Cherbourg, France, to the south-west of the Dover Strait.



All seven crew members of the cargo ship evacuated to two life rafts and were recovered by the fishing vessel.



According to the Maritime Prefect, the Britannica sustained damage on its port side at its center. Four 15-by-20-foot bilge boards were separated from the vessel and adrift, the agency reported.

The Britannica HAV reported to be carrying a cargo of 1,955 tonnes of steel. A small oil sheen has been observed in the water surrounding the wreck, according to the Maritime Prefect.

The captain of the fishing vessel sustained a minor head injury, but otherwise no injuries were reported.

The French rescue tug Abeille Liberté has been dispatched to the scene along with French coastal police boat to monitor the wreck.



A helicopter with the French Navy has reportedly evacuated the seven crew members of the cargo ship to land.


The Maltese-flagged Britannica HAV was built in 1985.

Passenger numbers don't justify routes

Ferry passenger numbers for Irish routes to and from the Isle of Man don't justify the cost of laying the services on.

That's the conclusion of the outgoing chair of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Robert Quayle made the comments while discussing the future of Manx ferry services in the wake of government's purchase of the company.

Speaking on yesterday's Sunday Opinion, Mr Quayle rebutted the accusation that the Steam Packet had abandoned Ireland: