Monday, November 8, 1999 Published at 04:57 GMT


UK

Crew stays on stricken cargo ship

The vessel has a gash in its side

A salvage expert has begun an inspection of a stricken 10,000-tonne cargo vessel which is taking on water after crashing into an historic lighthouse tower off the South Coast.

The Monrovian-registered cargo vessel Dole America, with 22 people on board, hit the Nab Tower as it left Portsmouth Harbour early on Sunday.

A salvage master was airlifted on board the stranded vessel, which was carrying a cargo of bananas and pineapples to Antwerp when it crashed at 4am.

The expert, representing a consortium from Dutch company Smitt Tak and Klyne Tugs of Lowestoft, arrived shortly after 1pm and was immediately taken aboard.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said there was an eight-metre gash in the side of the vessel.

It is listing 10 degrees to the starboard side after two of its three holds were flooded.

Oil leak

The 22 crew, from Norway, India, Ecuador, the Philippines and Poland, are still on board.

A marine casualty officer was winched on board to assess the situation.

The ship is understood to have been built in 1994 and is owned by American bank, the Wormington Trust Company.

The vessel lost five tonnes of lubricating oil in the accident. There is also approximately 440 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and 70 tonnes of diesel on board.

Vessel stable

The MCA said: "We have mobilised appropriate resources of equipment to give contingency for dealing with any possible pollution from the vessel. Coastguard and salvage resources are closely monitoring the situation."

Salvage experts are due to carry out a diving survey on the vessel, to assess the amount of damage and how much water was taken on board.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said: "The ship is safe, stable and under control.

"The operation is now totally in the hands of the salvors, and as yet we have had no indication that anyone is going to be taken off the ship tonight."