The United Kingdom Secretary of State’s representative for Maritime and Salvage Intervention (SOSREP) Hugh Shaw and the French Maritime authorities have decided to send a team of experts to inspect the MSC Flaminia.
To give these experts access to the ship it will be brought to a position 30 miles from the UK. This should enable the inspection team to board the vessel on Friday (subject to circumstances and weather conditions) to carry out a detailed inspection.
The team will include two internationally recognised experts specialising in marine salvage and fire fighting and a specialist fire fighting expert from the Prefecture Maritime.
The outcome of the inspection will be made available to all coastal States currently involved with the incident and will enable them to determine if there are any further requirements before the ship transits the English Channel en-route to German Territorial waters.
Hugh Shaw, SOSREP said:
“Much has been done to stabilise the ship since the accident last month. The inspection team will be able to board the ship and carry out an expert analysis and evaluation. Their report will be passed to all the coastal States along the intended route to Germany and will assist with their decision making and approval processes.”
August 22: MSC Flaminia and two tugs are proceeding towards UK waters at a rather slow speed, last known position at 20.8.12 16:30 UTC was 48.23N 015.06W, see the map. Tug Carlo Magno seems to be sent on some errand again, steaming towards Falmouth and entering English Channel in the morning August 22. The rest is already known thanks to press-releases and media news – MSC Flaminia is granted shelter in German waters after undergoing preliminary survey in UK waters by a joint team of British, Dutch and French experts. Some media said there are 37 containers on board with hazardous materials, some said there are about 150 containers with flammable goods, official press-releases don’t elaborate on that point. But official press-releases are very interesting without the details of containers, saying stunning things if one is curious enough to appreciate it.
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