Marseille (AFP)
The cargo ship Rhodanus stranded in the night from Saturday to Sunday off Bonifacio (Corse-du-Sud) was clear Friday and then towed to the nearby bay of Sant'Amanza, where it will be inspected, announced the maritime prefecture (Premar ) of the Mediterranean.
The operation, "particularly delicate" according to a statement from the Premar, was completed around noon Friday, after pumping all 38 tons of oil, the anchor drop and a final dive under the hull.
Once completely cleared from the rocks in which it was stuck, the Rhodanus was towed into the Bay of Sant? Amanza, still in Bonifacio, by the support and assistance building Jason and the harbor tug Persevero.
The ship must now be inspected by the classification society Rina, with the assistance of the naval mine clearance divers. It is this company which will have to give the green light for a possible transit of the ship towards a French port on the continent.
The freighter, which was carrying 2,650 tons of steel coils, was stranded in the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve despite repeated calls by the coastguard for about 50 minutes. According to the authorities, the accident did not cause pollution.
The ship's commanding officer and the cargo watchdog, both of Russian nationality, are prosecuted in particular for non-compliance with the rules of collision. They were summoned before the maritime court on February 7, announced Thursday the prosecutor of Marseille. The freighter, which flies the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, is owned by the German shipowner West-Trade Logistic GmbH.
© 2019 AFP