Germany Tugs hold damaged tanker in position off Sassnitz
The tanker "Eventin", which has been unable to maneuver for days, has arrived at a secured position in front of the city port of Sassnitz for the time being. The 274-metre-long ship will now be held in position by two tugs for around five kilometers off the coast until a decision is made on how to proceed, according to the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies. To this end, it is already in contact with the tanker's shipping company.
12.01.2025, 22:41
SDA
Shipowner is said to have commissioned two ocean-going tugs
"The shipowner has stated that he has commissioned two ocean-going tugs to take the ship to a location of his choice." It is not yet clear when the shipowner will implement this plan. "The shipping company has announced that the tugs will arrive on Monday." A spokesperson for the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies was initially unable to say what time of day this would be. "It is not known where they are to take the ship," the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies also announced. According to the CCME, it was initially unclear why there was a blackout on board.
The almost 20-year-old tanker with almost 100,000 tons of oil on board was wrecked in the Baltic Sea north of Rügen on Friday. Because all systems on board had failed, the ship drifted in the Baltic Sea for hours, unable to maneuver. Rescue teams finally managed to establish towing connections to the "Eventin" on the high seas on Friday afternoon. This enabled the ship to be towed off the coast of Sassnitz. The weather conditions at sea had slowed down the towing process considerably, with waves up to four meters high at times.
Doctor checks the crew's state of health
According to the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, there is currently no danger to the environment, the ship is watertight and the situation is considered stable. The weather had also calmed down further and the wind had died down. "The chosen position also offers protection from the northerly winds," said the CCME.
There are still 24 crew members on board the tanker, which is currently without power. They have been without electricity, heating and running water since the total failure. A doctor and a paramedic were therefore lowered onto the ship on Sunday afternoon. Their task was to check the crew's state of health and they returned from the ship with good news: "They do not currently require any acute medical assistance," a spokesperson for the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies told the German Press Agency.
Emergency generators and fan heaters for the crew
Several emergency generators had already been brought on board to provide the crew with power. "They can use electrical appliances such as microwaves and kettles, charge their cell phones and operate the fan heaters. We have also given them several canisters of fuel for the emergency generators." More heaters are still to be delivered. In addition, a company commissioned by the shipowner will deliver fresh supplies and fuel for the emergency generators on Monday.
The emergency response team ended its mission on Sunday evening. "Most recently, the state emergency tugs were replaced with commercial vehicles," the press office announced.
It is still unclear when and where the 274-metre-long tanker will be repaired. The shipping company that owns the "Eventin" is based in the United Arab Emirates. The environmental organization Greenpeace classifies the ship, which was built in 2006, as part of the so-called Russian shadow fleet, which Russia, which is subject to sanctions, uses to export oil.
More safety required for Baltic Sea shipping
The head of the state tourism association, Tobias Woitendorf, took the accident as an opportunity to renew his association's call for better safety precautions in the busy waters of the Baltic Sea. "Hazard prevention must not only begin in the event of damage. It must be preventative and internationally coordinated. The issue should be given a higher priority at federal policy level," he warned.
The Kadet Channel north of Rostock is one of the narrowest and most difficult passages in the Baltic Sea. Up to 200 cargo ships a day pass through the narrow passage, which is only around 1,000 meters wide in some places and has frequently been the scene of accidents. This is why there are repeated calls for compulsory pilotage there. In 2001, for example, the sugar freighter "Tern" rammed into the oil tanker "Baltic Carrier", causing around 2,700 tons of oil to wash up on the Danish coast.
