Damaged tug boat at centre of rescue drama towed to Weymouth Bay for repairs (From Dorset Echo)
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Damaged tug boat at centre of rescue drama towed to Weymouth Bay for repairs
2:00pm Wednesday 16th January 2013 in News
PULLED TO SAFETY: The stricken tug is towed around Portland and into Weymouth Bay
A DAMAGED tug boat at the centre of a rescue drama is awaiting repairs to a gash in its hull after being towed into Weymouth Bay.
The Christos XXII, carrying 200 tonnes of diesel, was damaged after the vessel it was towing collided into its side off the Devon coast on Sunday night. Eight crew members were plucked to safety when the tug rapidly started taking on water.
The tug, which was travelling from Germany to Turkey, was trying to anchor a mile off Hope’s Nose, Torquay, when it was hit.
A salvage operation to prevent it from sinking and leaking fuel, involving rescue boats and Royal Navy vessels, was successful and it was decided to tow the stricken tug to Portland for repairs once it had stabilised.
But it was too late to save the towed vessel, ex German Naval training ship Emsstrom, which sank off Torquay on Monday.
Christos XXII arrived into Weymouth Bay yesterday.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said it was alongside another tug and due to be assessed by divers and repaired before being brought into Portland Port. There is no pollution issues with the vessel.
