Gallery: Collided RoRo and Containership Finally Disentangled

After five days of being entangled in the Mediterranean, the Tunisian Ro-Ro ship Ulysse has been separated from the hull of Cyprus-flagged containership CSL Virginia, the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the Mediterranean informed.

The two ships have been fixed together since Ulysse rammed into the anchored boxship, some 28 kilometres north-west of Cape Corsica on Sunday, October 7.

Several navy and antipollution ships have been dispatched to the scene to contain potential further pollution of the environment. An anti-pollution dam has been deployed along the boxship to curb the bunker spill from spreading.

Both ships remain within the zone until their conditions are assessed, and a salvage plan is determined.

#CollisionEnCorse Breaking news : Sous effet combiné mouvements houle et précédentes tentatives désincarcération, Ulysse a bougé puis s’est libéré du Virginia vers 21h30. Ulysse reste sur place. Tous moyens sur zone mobilisés pour sécuriser navires et préserver environnement. pic.twitter.com/dRQY8xKdH9

— Prémar Méditerranée (@Premarmed) October 11, 2018

CSL Virginia’s hull sustained a major blow in the collision resulting in a significant rupture on its starboard side. The containership’s bunker tanks were punctured causing a fuel spill.

Ulysse, on the other hand, was not significantly damaged as a result of the collision.

Meanwhile, oil recovery operations continue under the supervision of the French Navy. Based on the latest update, the oil strip which was heading toward the coast of Corsica has since shifted direction.

World Maritime News Staff; Image Courtesy: French Navy