EEMS SUN

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Captain refused tug assistance after engine breakdown

The "Eems Sun" was adrift for several hours between Nov 28 and 29, 2016, after the engine broke down, despite the offer from Salvamento Marítimo to assist it with a tow to the port. The captain of the vessel initially had asked the Maritime Captaincy for a margin to be able to repair and the request was granted. The ship had left the port of Barcelona on Nov 28 at 8.30 p.m. On Nov 29 at 3 a.m., when it was about 11 miles off the coas at Vilanova, the engine stopped and the ship went adrift. Salvamento Marítimo offered the help of the tug "Punta Mayor" which was in the area and went on standby at since noon by order of the Maritime Captaincy. But the captain declined the offer and said they would fix the engine. However, as the repair failed, he was forced to hire the tug and approach the nearest port to avoid problems. Finally, when he was only five miles off the coast of Torredembarra. Weather was expected to deteriorate with waves of two meters and wind of 25 knots. The captain said that he had already hired a private tugboat based in Sant Carles de la Ràpita, but it would take eight hours to arrive. Only after multiple orders, he reluctantly accepted the assistance of the "Punta Mayor". The ship was taken to the port of Tarragona, where it berthed at the Llevant Dam at 11 p.m. after three hours towage, and now waiting for a repair of the engine. The vessel was detained, and the Maritime Captaincy has opened a disciplinary file for disobedience. Until the requested deposit has not been paid. The ship was not allowed to sail on to England. It finally left the port of Tarragona again on Dec 2 at Dec 2 at 8.30 p.m. destined for Flixborough, ETA Dec 12. Spanish reports with photo: http://www.naucher.com/es/actualidad/el-eems-sun-se-quedo-a-la-deriva-frente-al-puerto-de-vilanova/_n:5685/ http://www.diaridetarragona.com/tarragona/75942/capitania-maritima-de-tarragona-sancionara-un-buque-por-desobediencia