Date: Friday, January 19, 2007

Re:	NW European storms leave navigational casualties in their wake

Dear NASA Member:

Received following authored by Harry de Wilt and Victoria Roberts

Northwestern Europe’s storms have caused a string of navigational casualties, including a potential record oil spill for Rotterdam after a containership crashed into an oil-jetty, and the crew was forced to abandon their damaged ship.

At Rotterdam, the 2,600 TEU CMA CGM Claudel was torn loose from moorings at ECT’s Delta Dedicated North terminal. The ship was not under main engine power, and nearby tugs were unable to intercept the ship before it hit a crude oil unloading jetty at the Maasvlakte Oil Terminal. It may be the biggest oil spill Rotterdam has ever seen, a Port Authority spokesman explained that the spill could have been up to 1,600 metric tonnes. However, the storm’s force and wave heights had made it impossible to make a reliable estimate of the spill volume. For the same reasons, it was impossible to deploy floating oil booms to control the spill. The ship was quickly returned to its berth.

Rotterdam shipping has been seriously disrupted all day. With pilot service suspended, the only ships able to sail are those under the minimum length for compulsory pilotage, or ferries, feeders and short sea ships.

Meanwhile, in the English Channel, the 26 sailors who had abandoned ship this morning have been rescued. The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency reported a distress call from the Zodiac Maritime Agencies vessel - whose charter name is the MSC Napoli - at 10:30 GMT. Following earlier conflicting reports about the ship’s sinking, or being towed to Le Havre, it appears the ship has not sunk.

The containership’s managers, Zodiac Maritime Agencies, said the MSC Napoli had been carrying hazardous cargo, however, Zodiac did say the cargo was not explosives.

Northeast of the MSC Napoli site, the UK south coast was battered by winds and operations at Southampton Container terminal were suspended. Container operations were halted at Felixstowe at 06:00 GMT, although Ro/Ro operations have continued.

The Port of Antwerp authority had no information of any casualties, but a spokeswoman confirmed that pilotage by boat had been cancelled from 10:00 local time, and helicopter pilot service cancelled from 11:00. As of approximately 16:20, 10 ships of all types were ready to leave, but bridges and locks had been closed for safety reasons, said the spokeswoman.

A Hamburg port authority spokesman said the port had been relatively sheltered by its inland position.

Le Havre’s port authority told CI-online that there had been no incidents, and that navigation was possible.

Best regards,

North American Shippers Association (NASA)
Joan Barrett
NASA/Insurance Administrator