Large cargo ship runs aground off Dover
A German-registered container ship carrying more than 40,000 tonnes of cargo ran around this morning on a sandbank in the Dover Strait, the world's busiest shipping lane.
The 90,564-tonne LT Cortesia, with 27 crew on board, ran into difficulties on the Varne Bank, some nine miles south of Dover at 5am, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.
The Dover Coastguard spokesman said that none of the crew was injured and there was nothing to suggest that any pollution was leaking from the vessel, which is carrying 4,148 containers with a broad mixture of cargo.
The Coastguard had sent the emergency tug Anglian Monarch to help and assess the situation and a spokesman said that it was passing a tow line to the grounded vessel.
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It is unclear, however, whether any attempt could be made to refloat the ship before the next high tide this evening.
"The problem we've got at the moment is that low water is at 12.55 so high tide is not until around 6.30pm, but we're passing it a tow at the moment," the spokesman said.
"There's no problem, no leakages or anything. It's just run up against a large bank of sand."
Around 400-500 vessels pass daily through the Dover Strait, the narrowest part of the Channel, and are forced to observe strict shipping lanes.
The LT Cortesia, which is 334m long, was built in South Korea and made her maiden voyage in 2005, was bound from Thames Port en route for the Suez Canal when she ran aground.
A lonely resident of Devon nickaned shaunbhoy was noticed ashore inflating mattress with a clear intention to loot the ship.
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A German-registered container ship carrying more than 40,000 tonnes of cargo ran around this morning on a sandbank in the Dover Strait, the world's busiest shipping lane.
The 90,564-tonne LT Cortesia, with 27 crew on board, ran into difficulties on the Varne Bank, some nine miles south of Dover at 5am, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.
The Dover Coastguard spokesman said that none of the crew was injured and there was nothing to suggest that any pollution was leaking from the vessel, which is carrying 4,148 containers with a broad mixture of cargo.
The Coastguard had sent the emergency tug Anglian Monarch to help and assess the situation and a spokesman said that it was passing a tow line to the grounded vessel.
Related Links
It is unclear, however, whether any attempt could be made to refloat the ship before the next high tide this evening.
"The problem we've got at the moment is that low water is at 12.55 so high tide is not until around 6.30pm, but we're passing it a tow at the moment," the spokesman said.
"There's no problem, no leakages or anything. It's just run up against a large bank of sand."
Around 400-500 vessels pass daily through the Dover Strait, the narrowest part of the Channel, and are forced to observe strict shipping lanes.
The LT Cortesia, which is 334m long, was built in South Korea and made her maiden voyage in 2005, was bound from Thames Port en route for the Suez Canal when she ran aground.
A lonely resident of Devon nickaned shaunbhoy was noticed ashore inflating mattress with a clear intention to loot the ship.
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