Two Maersk offshore supply vessels have sunk off the coast of France during a tow to a ship recycling yard in Turkey where they were due to be scrapped.
The Maersk Supply Service vessels, Maersk Searcher and Maersk Shipper, were unmanned when they sank Thursday approximately 60 miles off the coast of France, Maersk Supply COO Claus Bachmann said in a statement.
“We can confirm that the Maersk Supply Service vessel, Maersk Battler, lost two towed supply vessels on December 22,” Bachmann said.
“The two towed vessels were unmanned. There are 10 people on board the towing vessel Maersk Battler. All are well and accounted for. Coast guard of France has been informed of the incident,” he added.
The two OSVs Maersk Searcher and Maersk Shipper were en route to a Turkish ship yard for recycling. They departed Fredericia, Denmark on December 12 under tow by the AHTS Maersk Battler. Prior to departure both towed vessels had been emptied of lubricant oil and diesel oil, Bachmann said.
“We are currently investigating the cause of the incident. No further information is available at this point in time,” said Bachmann.
Offshore tug supply vessel MAERSK BATTLER at 0155 CET Dec 22 reported to MRCC Etel, France, sinking of one of two towed vessels, MAERSK SEARCHER , in position 48 05N 006 24W, some 80 nm west of Brest, Celtic Sea. Another vessel under tow, MAERSK SHIPPER , capsized, but remained afloat, permitting further towage, but MAERSK SHIPPERalso sank at 0633 CET in position 48 01N 006 37W, some 87 nm west of Brest. Both vessels under tow were offshore supply tugs, understood to be decommissioned, to be towed to Turkey for dismantling. Both were unmanned, free of fuel, oils and other pollutants, i.e. their sinking doesn̢۪t carry any environmental risks.
