Update: CSCL Indian Ocean Reaches Hamburg

China Shipping Container Lines’ stricken boxship CSCL Indian Ocean has arrived at Hamburg Port and tied up at the Predöhlkai, German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME) said. 

The containership was taken under tow early this morning by five tugs from the place of grounding to the port after an armada of 12 tugs pulled the ship free. There has been no pollution resulting from the towing operation and according to current findings, the vessel is fully functional.

The sea-going-tugs Union Manta of Boskalis and Fairmount Expedition, six tugs of Bugsier and four tugs of Kotug Offshore and Smit Salvage, two water police boats, the Do228 of CCME, a medical emergency team of the fire brigade Cuxhaven and the multi-purpose vessel Neuwerk participated in today’s operation, CCME said.

The Elbe river is now freed for the shipping traffic again.

The CSCL Indian Ocean was en route to Hamburg on Wednesday, February 3 when it ran aground on the Elbe near Lühesand at about 22:00 hrs. The reported cause of the grounding is  a failure in the navigation system.