UK Maritime Pilots Association (UKMPA) praised marine pilots who prevented a vessel from grounding when the vessel lost power.
UK Maritime Pilots Association praised pilots who prevented vessel from grounding when it lost power near the Port of Southampton.Â
Port operator ABP Southampton is currently investigating the cause of the power issue while port activities are continuing as usual.Â
The box ship MOL Treasure lost its power Thursday while near the Port of Southampton. According to the UK Maritime Pilots Association, the vessel lost its power when it started its voyage to Le Havre from the Port of Southampton. Pilots, Capt. Christopher Hoyle and Capt. Neil Dunn guided the 20,000 TEU mega-ship.
Less than an hour into the journey the MOL Treasure’s main engine experienced a substantial decrease in power. The engine neither stopped nor did produce enough energy for the journey. For over 10 hours the pilots Hoyle and Dunn worked to keep the vessel from running aground with the remaining power. The vessel was drifting with the tidal waters of the Solent. A third pilot also joined to help them give rest. The ship had an escort tug to help with 3 tugs dispatched by Southampton’s VTS operator.
The vessel which had a power issue at around 11 00 hours that day was towed back to the port just before midnight. Shoreside authorities and towing operators helped assist in the process. No major effects on port operations nor any environmental harm were reported.
“Without the skills of the pilots working as a team with the port’s maritime management team . . . the outcome could have been vastly different – a major international waterway blocked to trade possibly for weeks, pollution to a major waterway, serious injury or loss of life and significant disruption to supply chains,” said UKMPA in a statement.Â