CCG ship, USCG helos dispatched to assist stranded Russian container ship off BC

[CougarKing]

A commercial tug has also been dispatched from Prince Rupert, as reported by the CBC.

Vancity Buzz

RUSSIAN CONTAINER SHIP LOSES POWER, ADRIFT NEAR HAIDA GWAII AS STORM APPROACHES

The Canadian Coast Guard is en route after the Simushir, a Russian container ship, reported that it had lost all power and is adrift near Haida Gwaii.

The Council the Haida Nation has issued an emergency warning as the Simushir is carrying 500 metric tonnes of bunker fuel and 60 metric tonnes of diesel.

It is possible the ship could hit ground within 3 to 4 hours due to high winds and ocean swells from an approaching potent frontal system. Efforts are being made by the crew and both American and Canadian rescue officials to prevent the ship from spilling any fuel.

The vessel lost power at 1:30 a.m. this morning and was 19 kilometres west of Gowgaia Bay. It was traveling from Washington state to Russia.

It has a length of 135-metres, a deadweight tonnage of 9,405 tons and was built in 1998 in the Netherlands.

Tug boats have been deployed from Alaska and Prince Rupert, but they are not expected to arrive at the vessel for another 20 hours. The Canadian Coast Guard vessel is also a considerable 750 kilometres away.

U.S. Coast Guard helicopters have been sent to monitor the situation and rescue the Simushir’s injured captain, according to CTV.

 

[CougarKing]

The CCG comes to the rescue:

Canadian Press

Coast guard vessel tows disabled Russian cargo ship off B.C. coast
The Canadian Press

OLD MASSETT, B.C. - It's slow going in heavy seas, but a Canadian Coast Guard vessel is continuing to tow a disabled Russian cargo ship away from the rocky shores of British Columbia's northern coast.

The operation began Friday evening when the crew of the Gordon Reid managed to secure a tether to the Simushir.

The container ship lost power Thursday night in rough water off Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, while sailing from Washington state to Russia.

There were immediate concerns it could drift ashore, break apart and spill hundreds of tonnes of bunker and diesel fuel, creating an environmental disaster.

Sub Lt. Melissa Kia, at the Canadian Forces' joint rescue co-ordination centre in Victoria, said the Simushir was being towed due West away from shore at about one nautical mile per hour, in three to five metres seas.

Kia said the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the American Coast Guard cutter Spar were due to arrive on scene, along with the ocean going tug Barbara Foss, later Saturday morning to provide any additional assistance that might be needed.

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[Navy_Pete]

Those are big waves and high winds for a tow; particularly with a vessel that size.  Glad to hear everyone is safe and sound; hooking up an emergency tow line in those conditions can be dangerous.

 

[CougarKing]

And the towline breaks...

Global BC

Tow line snaps setting Russian cargo ship adrift again

By Staff  The Canadian Press

OLD MASSETT, B.C. – The tow line attached to a disabled Russian cargo ship off the British Columbia coast has snapped, setting the ship adrift once again.

But Lt. Greg Menzies of the Canadian Forces’ Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre says there are three Canadian and U.S. Coast Guard ships on scene and three helicopters on stand-by.

He says the 10 crew members remain on board in no danger and the vessel is about 45 kilometres from shore.

Menzies says the Canadian Coast Guard is attempting to reattach a tow line until an ocean-going tug arrives tonight.


(...SNIPPED)

 

[CougarKing]

I seem to recall one local official interviewed earlier on CTV, who said there was "a lack of towing capacity", but aren't all vessels, not just oceangoing tugs, capable of towing large vessels? I'm not just asking about stern towlines, but alongside tows.

Canadian Press

American tug towing disabled Russian cargo ship to Prince Rupert, B.C.
The Canadian Press

OLD MASSETT, B.C. - The stricken Russian container ship Simushar is under tow again off the north coast of British Columbia.

The Canadian Forces' joint rescue co-ordination centre in Victoria says the ocean-going American tug boat Barbara Foss has a secure line attached to the ship.
Spokesperson Acting Sub Lt. Melissa Kia says the owners of Russian vessel plan to have it taken to Prince Rupert.

Kia says the winds and seas have calmed significantly since yesterday, and at their current speed of seven nautical miles per hour the ships should reach port later today.

The Canadian Coast Guard vessel Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the U.S. Coast Guard vessel Spar are providing escort service.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[Navy_Pete]

I seem to recall one local official interviewed earlier on CTV, who said there was "a lack of towing capacity", but aren't all vessels, not just oceangoing tugs, capable of towing large vessels? I'm not just asking about stern towlines, but alongside tows.

Not really; you need the right equipment and deck layout to properly rig the tow, as well as a lot of extra horsepower.  They can probably rig an emergency setup, but because of the sea state and wind they would not likely have strong enough lines onboard.  Also, just getting everything attached is dangerous, as there is a lot of line to pass back and forth.

Ideally you would actually hook up to the anchor chain, but as you can imagine, not something you can do in the ocean.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I was on the George R Pearkes when we responded to the Exxon San Fransisco which had broken down off of Cape Flattery. Even though we were a 1100 class Ice breaker it was questionable if we could tow her. Trying to lay out our biggest line along the side of the ship so it would not hang up as it pays out was quite the challenge. Not only does shaft horsepower come into it, but also efficiency of the props and just how strong is the securing point that you have on your ship. You have not seen big till you have seen a VLCC wallowing in the swell, made us look like a runt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCGS_George_R._Pearkes

http://www.aukevisser.nl/exxon/id382.htm