The United Kingdom’s Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) Hugh Shaw, has requested that the MSC Flaminia remains in a position 30 miles south of Lands End in order to allow SMIT Salvage to stabilise the ship.
This is in preparation for an international coastal state inspection team to board her to carry out an assessment prior to her getting approval to proceed to German territorial waters.
The team of six includes specialists in maritime salvage and fire fighting. The experts need to carry out a detailed inspection of the ship to make sure it is safe to transit the English Channel, Dover Strait and other coastal state waters during the passage to Germany.
Salvors are still taking steps to reduce the temperatures on board. The inspection team will be able to carry out their work once these risks are eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level and weather conditions allow them to board the vessel.
Once the inspection is complete the vessel will remain at its holding position 30 miles south of Lands End until the coastal states involved have had time to consider the report. They will then determine if there are any further requirements before the ship commences her transit towards German waters.
Hugh Shaw, SOSREP said:
“ Until the coastal state inspection has taken place, and the results passed to the other coastal states en-route, the MSC Flaminia will not be given approval to proceed to Germany. SMIT Salvage will inform the UK and German authorities when they are satisfied that any risks have been reduced to an acceptable level and that it is then safe for the UK, French and German team to board the casualty and carry out the inspection .”
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Source: Maritime and Coastguard Agency, August 28, 2012