SASSNITZ (dpa-AFX) – The tanker “Eventin”, which has been unable to maneuver for days, has initially arrived at a secured position in front of the Sassnitz city harbor. The 274 meter long ship will now be held in position by two tugs around five kilometers off the coast until a decision has been made about how to proceed, as the accident command announced. It is already in contact with the tanker’s shipping company.
The shipowner is said to have commissioned two ocean-going tugs
“The shipowner stated that he had commissioned two ocean-going tugboats to take the ship to a location of his choice.” It is not yet clear when the shipping company will implement this plan. “The shipping company announced the arrival of the tugboats for Monday.” A spokesman for the accident command was initially unable to say what time of day that would be. “It is not known where they should take the ship,” the accident command also said. According to the accident command, it was initially unclear why there was a blackout on board.
The almost 20-year-old tanker with almost 100,000 tons of oil on board wrecked on Friday in the Baltic Sea north of Rügen. Because all systems on board had failed, the ship drifted in the Baltic Sea for hours, unable to maneuver. Rescue teams finally managed to establish towing connections to the “Eventin” on the high seas on Friday afternoon. This enabled the ship to be pulled off the coast of Sassnitz. The weather conditions at sea had slowed down the towing process considerably; at times the waves were up to four meters high.
A doctor checks the health of the crew
According to the accident command, there is currently no danger to the environment, the ship is tight and the situation is assessed as stable. The weather had also calmed down and the wind had died down. “The chosen position also offers protection from the northern winds,” said the accident command.
There are still 24 crew members on board the tanker, which is currently without power. Since the total failure, they have been without electricity, heating and running water. On Sunday afternoon, a doctor and a paramedic rappelled onto the ship. They were supposed to check the health of the crew and came back from board with good news: “They currently do not need any acute medical help,” said a spokesman for the accident command of the German Press Agency.
Emergency generators and fan heaters for the crew
Several emergency generators had previously been brought on board so that the crew could take care of themselves. “This means they can use electrical devices such as microwaves and kettles again, charge their cell phones and operate the fan heaters. We have also given them several canisters of fuel for the emergency generators.” More heaters are still to be delivered. In addition, a company commissioned by the shipowner will deliver fresh supplies and gasoline for the emergency generators on Monday.
On Sunday, the first of the two emergency tugs that hold the tanker in position was replaced with a commercial tug. The second tug should be replaced later in the day. “This is intended to ensure that the emergency tugs are available for potential further operations on the Baltic Sea,” said the accident command.
It is currently unclear when and where the 274 meter long tanker will be repaired. The shipping company that owns the “Eventin” is based in the United Arab Emirates. The environmental organization Greenpeace counts the ship, built in 2006, as part of the so-called Russian shadow fleet, which Russia, which is subject to sanctions, uses to export oil.
More safety required for Baltic Sea shipping
The head of the state tourism association, Tobias Woitendorf, took the accident as an opportunity to renew his association’s call for better safety precautions in the busy waters of the Baltic Sea. “Averting danger should not only begin when damage occurs. This must be done preventively and internationally coordinated. The issue should be given higher priority at the federal political level,” he warned.
The Kadetrinne north of Rostock is one of the narrowest and most difficult passages in the Baltic Sea. Up to 200 cargo ships per day pass through the narrow passage, some of which is only around 1,000 meters wide and where accidents have occurred frequently. That’s why there are always calls for compulsory pilotage there. In 2001, for example, the sugar freighter “Tern” rammed the oil tanker “Baltic Carrier”, whereupon around 2,700 tons of oil washed up on the Danish coast./cgl/DP/mis