UNION NEPTUNE

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Wheelhouse and hatch covers raised

The wheelhouse and five cargo hatches of the "Union Neptune", which on July 23, probably by result of "liquidising cargo" were recovered and placed onto the deck of the salvage vessel "Good Hope" from Friendship Offshore BV Terschelling. The "Good Hope" was contracted by Titan Salvage.

Robin Hood doubts lost cargo to be harmless

For the environmental association Robin Hood, the cargo of the "Ubnion Neptune" is "harmful". The ship is lying 25 km southwest of the port of La Cotinière in a water depth of 45 meters after it capsized on July 22 in the late afternoon underway from Bordeaux to Rotterdam with iron oxide. Robin Hood is concerned that the cargo is not brought to the surface. According to the maritime prefecture, the cargo does not present a hazard based on analysis of the laboratory of the Navy Lasem Toulon. They took samples and analyzed a it. The French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) in Nantes, where these results were reported, concluded that there was no risk to the marine environment. IFREMER expects the growth of marine life on the surface of the iron ore within a few weeks.Le Cedre et le Ceppol have subsequently confirmed this. However, the Robin Hood Association though admitting being no experts in this regard, stated the exact opposite. The 2238 tons escaped when the hatch covers were broken and the ship went bottom up. The Norwegian shipping company of the "Union Neptune" has only been ordered to remove about 22 tons of bunker fuel.

Union Neptune completely sunk

The wreck of the "Union Neptune", which had partially sank off the Ile d'Oléron and drifted 1,5 miles in the recent days, was completely sunk on Aug 12, 2011, in position 45 ° 52.82 N - 001 ° 40.65 W. At 5:50 p.m., the wreck had completely disappeared under the water surface and rested on the bottom in a depth of 45 metres. The water level above the wreck is thus more than 30 meters. The decision to sink the vessel was taken after the "Abeille Languedoc" had observed the drift in heavy swell the recent days and as deteriorating weather was expected. The bow of the ship which was carrying 2,000 tons of iron oxide from Bordeaux to Rotterdam at the time of its sinking on July 22, had sticked out of the water since. The "Argonaute" and the mine hunter "Pegasus" with a team of divers were sent to the wrecksite. After an investigation of the hull, divers from the Navy proceeded with breaching explosive charges in a phased manner in order to keep up the structural integrity of the wreck and avoid pollution. Most of the cargo was already spilled on the original site following the rupture of parts of the hatch covers in the sinking. The cargo drift continues to be monitored. Following the IFREMER Nantes it does not pose a risk to the marine environment. Apart from the cargo, bunkers contain 22 tons of diesel oil and 2090 gallons of lubricants according to data reported to the Port of Bordeaux before departure. These products will be recovered in the near future. French photo report: http://www.premar-atlantique.gouv.fr/galeries/Union-Neptune