Fairmount Tug Tows MSC Flaminia in Wilhelmshaven, Germany

Fairmount Marine’s ocean going salvage tug Fairmount Expedition, accompanied by tugs Anglian Sovereign and Carlo Magno, have safely delivered container vessel MSC Flaminia in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, after a hair-raising adventure lasting seven weeks.

The MSC Flaminia, owned by German Reederei NSB, was on her way from the US to Europe when a dramatic explosion and fire caused her to be abandoned by her crew at the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Fairmount Marine and Smit Salvage mobilized the ocean going salvage tug Fairmount Expedition, which was stationed in Falmouth, UK, with two salvage masters from Rotterdam on board and was first to reach the disabled vessel to render assistance. After several days of cooling the vessel’s hull, the fire operations had to be temporarily suspended due to severe risk of explosions.

The Fairmount Expedition was later joined by the tug Anglian Sovereign from UK’s J.P. Knight, carrying the main fire fighting/salvage team and portable equipment, and later by the tug Carlo Magno of Italian Augustea, carrying additional salvage experts.

The salvage team led by Smit finally managed to control and extinguish the fire. In order to further stabilize the vessel and extinguish the remaining hot spots the convoy set course for the UK coast pending permission to enter a Western European port.

After an odyssey lasting many weeks authorities from the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands finally cleared passage for Fairmount Expedition and MSC Flaminia through the English Channel. The convoy headed for Wilhelmshaven, Germany. On Saturday, September 8, a special fact finding team of the German Central Commando for Maritime Emergencies boarded the MSC Flaminia offshore Helgoland. After inspection the salvage team was allowed to tow the MSC Flaminia into the Jade-Weser-Port in Wilhelmshaven.