Cargo Ship Runs Aground In River Nene En Route From Latvia To Wisbech

The Baltic Arrow, a cargo ship stranded in the River Nene in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, was safely freed and reached its destination.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at around 08:49 BST, when the vessel, en route from Riga, Latvia, to the Port of Wisbech, reported “grounding.”

The 80-meter (262-foot) vessel carried timber when jammed diagonally, blocking the narrow channel.

The Wisbech Harbour Authority freed the ship at 21:52 on Tuesday and arrived at the harbour at 22:30 under its power.

A representative for Fenland District Council, the River Nene’s statutory harbour authority, stated that all the staff and crew were safe, and no injuries were reported.

The grounding attracted widespread attention since it resembled the 2021 Ever Given incident in the Suez Canal but on a considerably smaller scale.

Video Credits: ABC 7 Chicago/YouTube

The grounding occurred as the tide went away, causing the ship to make contact with the bank.

According to a spokeswoman for Wisbech Port, all berths are NAABSA (Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground), which means that vessels ground at low tide regularly.

The riverbank in the area is soft and sludgy, allowing vessels to ground securely without harm.

Drone footage showed a small tug attempting to refloat the vessel.

An extra tug from nearby Kings Lynn participated in the effort, and AIS data showed the Baltic Arrow leaving the area around 20:40 GMT.

The ship, which had been designed to operate safely when grounded, was expected to resume service without the need for repairs.

An inquiry into the cause of the grounding is underway.

On June 26, 2024, the Baltic Arrow remained docked at Wisbech.

Reference: BBC

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Source: Maritime Shipping News