#DriftingCargoship – A drifting cargoship on the way from Rotterdam to Ireland has been rescued off Plymouth by the RNLI, coastguard and a Dutch tug.
The Plymouth Herald writes that the 130m ship suffered engine failure and began dragging anchor off the south coast of Cornwall.
The Samskip Express was drifting three miles off Porthleven but, according to coastguards (on Friday), is now anchored awaiting rescue. It is said to be steady in 35 knot winds and a four metre swell.
A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said a tug had been sent to the ship and Penlee lifeboat summoned to assist getting a line to the vessel. For more coverage, click here.
In an update, Afloat adds that engine problems with Samskip Express have since been resolved and that the 803 TEU capacity containership was able to continue her voyage from Rotterdam. Last night the vessel berthed in Dublin Port.
The 2006 built containership operated by Samskip based in the Netherlands, though originally an Icelandic company formed in 1990, operate the vessel on a routine ‘feeder’ liner service to Dublin.
Samskip Express is scheduled to make her next departure around noon today bound for Waterford (Belview) the port's main terminal located downriver of the city. Also they operate services between Rotterdam to Belfast and Cork.
Samskip’s Dutch-Irish services form only part of a much wider route network throughout Europe, to northern Russian ports and on the Black Sea and to Georgia. In addition Europe-USA routes to ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
