SHIP HITS TRICOLOR AGAIN

Sky News ^ | Last Updated: 21:27 UK, Wednesday January 01, 2003 | Sky News

[colette_g]

Tricolor is lying on its side

SHIP HITS TRICOLOR AGAIN

A ship carrying 70,000 tonnes of highly flammable gas oil has crashed into the submerged car transporter which sank in the English Channel.

French coastguards are trying to rescue the crew of The Vicky - which is stuck on top of the the submerged Tricolor.

The Tricolor was carrying 2,862 BMWs, Volvos and Saabs worth an estimated £30m when it sank off the French port of Dunkirk two weeks ago after colliding with the container ship Kariba in thick fog.

The submerged wreck of the Tricolor, which was left lying on its side, was then hit by the Nicola, a 3,000-tonne ship registered in the Dutch Antilles.

Dover Coastguard said it was not yet known if there was any imminent danger of the highly flammable oil on board The Vicky igniting, or whether the ship was sinking.

The spokesman said: "If the Vicky is holed then the French are going to have get the crew off quickly and then deal with any pollution issue later."

[Tennessee_Bob]

Cool stuff and stupid names...just think...this:

Was because of this:

The Fairey Swordfish

[Jhoffa_]

Some homosexual biplane called the "Fairey Swordfish" did that?

wow..

[csvset]

The Vicky

Crash ship crew 'oblivious' of wreck

This story doesn't speak highly of the Vicky's crew.

[syriacus]

Thanks for posting the link!

I also watched a "realplayer" program on that web page. I was surprised to hear the BBC announcer pronounce the ship's name as ' Trickle-Lor. I hadn't seen any discussion of the collisions on live TV, so I hadn't actually heard the ship's name pronounced until now.

---

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2622699.stm

The risks of navigating the Channel, [excerpts] By Tom Symonds,
BBC Transport correspondent
......
Up to 400 vessels a day pass through the English Channel - and continue to do so despite the sunken ship in the way.

Given the number of warnings, it seems inconceivable that someone on the ship wasn't aware of the danger

.....
The Turkish oil tanker, the Vicky, would have had plenty of warnings of the obstacle.

An half-hourly radio warning is being broadcast from Dover and the French coastguards at Cross Griz-Nez. There are also announcements being made on the maritime distress calling frequency.
.....
The wreck is also marked by five warning buoys, one of which is specially designed to give out a bright reflection on ships' radar screens, and throw up a warning symbol.

A French warship, the Flamand, is patrolling the area.
.....

Antoine Goulley, from the French maritime prefecture in Cherbourg says: "The markers should have been seen by a trained sailor.

"In this case the Vicky should have known the position of the shipwreck. ....

[StriperSniper]

There is a short article in The New York Sun print edition today that says the wreck was marked with bouys and an hourly radio warning. Looks like another Hazelwood as far as bottom line responsibility, if not reason.

[Travis McGee]

True, but even so such a danger should be swiftly removed if at all possible.

Picture a car broken down in the travel lane of a busy freeway, and just left there with its flashers on.

[StriperSniper]

if at all possible.

Ah...there's the rub. A salvage operation for a ship that large takes some time to assemble (I'm sure the winter weather doesn't help either). Exactly how long is not my field, so I have no idea if they are working expeditiously or not.

[Travis McGee]

I never said it would be easy!

;^)

As always, it is 100% up to the ship captain to avoid known dangers!