Storm Frank Damages Hulls, Destroys Cargo in North Sea
Accidents were reported around the North Sea this week as Storm Frank's high winds and waves pushed vessels aground, smashed ships against docks and tore cargo from weather decks.
In addition to the headline incidents at the Troll, Valhall, Eldfisk and Embla fields offshore Norway, other accidents due to heavy weather made local news around the region.
In Marstal Harbor, Denmark, the general cargo vessel Norholm went hard aground on Wednesday. Shipyard Marstal Værft A/S had prepared to receive her for regular inspection and classification service, but yard manager Poul Sækmose told media that a strong combination of southeast wind and current carried her off. No hull damage, injuries or pollution were reported, and a tug has refloated her.
In the harbor at Poole, England, the Condor Ferries high speed passenger vessel Condor Liberation was smashed against the dock repeatedly by the storm's heavy waves. Authorities said that wind speeds in the harbor approached 55 knots. Condor has removed her from service pending repairs, cancelled the sailings on 2, 3 and 4 January and offered passengers either re-routing or a refund. Her next crossing had already been cancelled due to Storm Frank.
Photo credit Condor Ferries
Captain Fran Collins, Condor’s Executive Director of Operations said that “this has been a very difficult first year of service for Condor Liberation and we share the disappointment of our customers that three scheduled sailings between 2nd and 4th January will be cancelled . . . The conventional ferry services continue to maintain the lifeline link between the Islands and UK. The ceaseless atrocious weather over the New Year on both sides of the Channel has exceeded the storms earlier in 2015 and has given us operational challenges.”
The Liberation sustained damage once earlier this year while berthing at Guernsey. In addition to other reliability questions, the incident prompted the local government to commission an independent “suitability and performance” review of the vessel. The review found that the Liberation “is safe and stable, extremely well suited to operating in the Channel Islands, and is performing well.”
At the southern entrance to the English Channel, 18 nm off the island of Ushant, France, the Wagenborg general cargo vessel Koningsborg lost a deck cargo of timber when her propulsion failed in heavy weather. She was not able to restore power and authorities dispatched the salvage tug Abeille Bourbon to take her in tow to Brest.
In Norway, the ferry Gulen went aground at Mannheller Sogndal on Wednesday. Damage to the rudder and propeller are likely due to the grounding and authorities are examining the vessel's hull with a dive team. One passenger was injured. While the cause is still under investigation, media reported that strong winds were a contributing factor.