Tugs assisted disabled and damaged container ships in early February in Germany and Italy, preventing pollution and navigation hazards
In Germany, tugs and a fire-fighting vessel were mobilised to assist a container ship in trouble in the Elba River on 8 February, after a fire broke out in the engineroom of 2008-built Vera Rainbow after it left Hamburg container terminal.
Tugs towed and manoeuvred the Unifeeder-chartered, 1,450-TEU ship to a berth at Kohlbrand and the fire was extinguished by the onboard crew.
In Italy, tugs refloated container ship MSC Aniello after it ran aground at Livorno, outside the port of Genoa on 6 February. The 2000-built ship strayed off the shipping fairway and struck a breakwater. Three tugs refloated MSC Aniello, and less than an hour later towed it to a berth in the port.
In another incident involving a container ship, tugs were not required as crew fixed the issue. Container ship Maersk Essex suffered engine failure while proceeding with a pilot on board to the Vung Tau container terminal in Vietnam on 8 February. The 2011-built ship anchored to prevent drifting, enabling the crew to fix the problem. It resumed sailing and was berthed at the terminal.
In Greece, tugs will refloat bulk carrier Sally M after it ran aground outside the port of Katakolo, Pyrgos on 5 February. The 1997-built ship was carrying a cargo of salt from Egypt when it grounded while leaving the port.
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