MSC Boxship Towed after Losing Power off Spain

Spanish maritime salvage and rescue organisation Salvamento Maritimo was called in yesterday to tow the 9,400 TEU container ship MSC Ajaccio after it suffered problems with an oil pump west of Cape Finisterre and was drifting towards Cape Touriñán.

The crew of the disabled 300-metre boxship were unsuccessful in their attempts to fix the faulty oil pump, and issued a distress call to Salvamento Maritimo at around 4 pm local time yesterday.

Salvage vessels Don Inda and Sebastian Ocampo were dispatched to aid the 2013-built MSC Ajaccio and its crew of 28.

The two tugs towed the vessel in pretty rough weather conditions, and reached Punta Langosteira at around 2 pm local time today.

MSC Ajaccio was en route from Las Palmas to Rotterdam when it suffered the oil pump malfunction.

World Maritime News Staff; Image: Salvamento Maritimo