The accident caused water to enter the hull, damaging part of the engines and causing a total blackout of the on-board equipment.

The Italian Coast Guard announced that on Saturday, March 22, around 11:00 p.m., the scientific research vessel Fugro Mercator, engaged in seabed monitoring operations, ran aground on the reef of the Enfola promontory, near Portoferraio.

From an initial reconstruction, the vessel, 42 meters long, in seeking shelter from the bad weather, got too close to the coast, hitting the shallow water and stopping along the rocky cliff in that area according to Shipping Italy

Water to enter the hull

According to the maritime authority, the accident caused water to enter the hull, which was initially contained by the crew, but which subsequently damaged part of the engines, causing a total blackout of the on-board equipment.

During the night, under the coordination of the Maritime Directorate of Livorno, the patrol boat CP 805 of the Port of Portoferraio intervened, rescuing the crew members and the technical-scientific personnel, 11 people in total of different nationalities, currently in good health.

Difficult of the transfer operations

The transfer operations were made difficult due to the blackout that affected the ship, the proximity to the rocks and the undertow present in the area.

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The causes of the accident

The causes of the accident are not yet known: the Coast Guard investigations will determine whether the ship came close to the coast due to the strong winds present yesterday or whether it had technical problems with the propulsion systems.

During an operational meeting held at the Port of Portoferraio, the shipping company was warned, for environmental protection reasons, to remove the ship and the detailed aspects of the activities aimed at its subsequent recovery were examined.

Preliminary underwater inspections

Preliminary underwater inspections are currently underway, carried out by a company specialized in the sector, aimed at drawing up an operational plan for the removal of the unit. Monitoring by air and sea vessels of the Coast Guard has not recorded any marine pollution due to fuel spills.

The current position of FUGRO MERCATOR is at West Mediterranean reported 5 hours ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to SURVEY SITE, and expected to arrive there on Mar 20, 06:00. The vessel FUGRO MERCATOR (IMO 9299977, MMSI 311000786) is a Research Vessel built in 2003 (22 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Bahamas.

Source : Agencies

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