Rough Weather Grounds Cargo Ship, Tug in the Midst of Towing Operation

Cyprus-flagged general cargo ship Thea II ran aground off the East Yorkshire coast, England, on Saturday evening, December 15.

The UK Coast Guard said that the vessel’s crew sent a distress call on Saturday afternoon, indicating the ship lost power and dragged anchor three nautical miles east of Spurn Point in the North Sea.

“Humber VTS sent two tugs to the vessel and a tow line was attached but during rough weather the Thea II and the tug Svitzer Josephine went aground.  The tug later re-floated.  The second tug Svitzer Castle remained standing by,” the Coast Guard informed.

The vessel has 11 crew on board,  and there were no injuries reported to the seafarers. A helicopter and a lifeboat were dispatched to the scene as well in case the crew needed to be evacuated.

However, on Sunday morning, the vessel was refloated and was taken under tow to a deep water anchorage with two tugs standing by.

Based on the vessel’s AIS data, the ship was underway from Ijmuiden, the Netherlands to Immingham, Great Britain.