Rescue Teams Start Removing Oil from Grounded CSCL Indian Ocean

Youtube Authorities started pumping oil from the grounded containership CSCL Indian Ocean on the Elbe River in an attempt to move the vessel as it becomes lighter, the German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration said. A bunkering vessel arrived on site last night and the tugs Dolphin and Boxer remained overnight to monitor operations. The decision to lighten the ship comes after the rescue teams failed to refloat it on Thursday. The administration added that they are in contact with Shanghai-based China Shipping Container Lines, the owner of the 184,320 dwt boxship, and that they are working on a rescue plan. CSCL Indian Ocean is not expected to move until the late hours today, when another attempt to free the 2015-built vessel is planned. If the attempt turns out to be successful, the vessel will be towed to the port of Hamburg. The 400-meter-long containership, one of the world’s biggest, ran aground in the evening hours of February 3. The incident, which was caused by a failure in the navigation system, did not lead to any pollution in the area, and there were no injuries to the crew members. CSCL Indian Ocean is affecting the vessel traffic on site, the authority said. World Maritime News Staff