News - Story - Ece

News - Story - Ece

The English Channel is one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes. Every day about 500 ships safely pass each other.

On Tuesday 31st January 2006, two ships collided in the Channel, the tanker Ecu was holed and freighter General Grot-Roweck suffered no major damage. The crew were taken off the tanker as the ship was listing badly to port. The french divers inspected the ship and discovered a 5m hole below the water line. A large French tug arrived to attempt to tow the tanker to port. Hopefully this won't end up like the tricolor incident.

The damaged tanker Ecu sank around mid-night with its cargo of 10,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid in 70m of water.

On 1st of February a plane flew over the wreckage and spotted an oil slick bubbling up. The ships fuel oil estimated at 80 tonnes seems to have started leaking.

Apparently the General Grot-Rowecki has been in collision before. On 14th Nov 2005 it was damaged by a collision with Swedish ferry M/V Finnsailor.

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