Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Tanker Ship Wrecked at Sheffield Beach on the North Coast

Bulk Tanker "Phoenix" aground on Sheffield Beach.
 The carrier the 'Phoenix' was en-route to India to be scraped when they broke anchor late on Monday afternoon. The vessel obviously was having mechanical problems and the help of a salvage tug Smit Amandla was called in to try and pull the ship out to sea.

The stormy seas and heavy winds made the NSRI's job impossible and the help of Subtech's salvage crew came to assist. At around 9am this morning it looked like the tug was pulling the Phoenix shipwreck out to sea. What happened after that is still not known, but by 11am the Phoenix was wrecked on the rocky shelf's of Sheffield beach just north of Salt Rock.

It was quiet a thing to watch the spray from the waves blow right over the helicopters as they came in and air lifted the crew from the vessel. Fortunately there have been no reports that I know of of any major injuries and all the crew were evacuated safely.
The massive bulk carrier now a major feature at Sheffield Beach
 Fortunately because the ship was being decommissioned it was not caring any cargo or substances other than its own fuel and oil. Hopefully this will be able to get removed from the ship before it causes any environmental problems. Not that a couple thousand tonne ship on a pristine beach is not an environmental disaster. One wonders if there is any hope of being able to haul the ship off the rocks and out to sea?

The Phoenix right on our Garrick Spot!

So what now, will Sheffield have a permanent new horizon? With such a large vessel that is probably full of holes by now the chances are probably slim that it is going anywhere.
I suppose we should look on the bright side that its not pouring oil everywhere, and who knows maybe it will form a cooking wave.

Coatesman

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Chris. Thanks for the accurate account on what has taken place. Does anyone know what the next steps would be should there be a major fuel oil spill? Let's hope for the best that being , no holes, no pollution and having her moved to the 25m line.

Anonymous said...

someone should turn it into a mall or tourist attraction.

Coatesman said...

Check out the updates
http://coatesman.blogspot.com/2011/08/phoenix-sheffield-beach-shipwreck.html

Waltlyd photos said...

Hi Chris. Is the ship still stranded there or is it gone already? Thanks for the info so far. Arch.

Coatesman said...

The ship is still there and they are debating what is the best plan of action. A specialist from Europe has come out to help with the process.
I looks like they will attempt to row the ship again at the end of the month in the full spring tide.

George Askew said...

The carrier the 'Phoenix' was en-route to India to be scraped SCRAPPED when they broke anchor late on Monday afternoon. BROKE ANCHOR??? SURELY IT WAS UNDER TOW.

The stormy seas and heavy winds made the NSRI's job impossible and the help of Subtech's salvage crew came to assist. At around 9am this morning it looked like the tug was pulling the Phoenix shipwreck NOT A WRECK UNTIL ABANDONED out to sea. What happened after that is still not known, but by 11am the Phoenix was wrecked on the rocky shelf's SHELVES of Sheffield beach just north of Salt Rock.

It was quiet QUITE a thing to watch the spray from the waves blow right over the helicopters as they came in and air lifted AIRLIFTED the crew from the vessel. Fortunately there have been no reports that I know of of any major injuries and all the crew were evacuated safely