Working Conditions Aboard the Christos-Xxiv

On May 6, the transfer operations from the 'Abeille Liberté' to the 'Christos XXIV' proceeded throughout the day as preparations were made for adverse weather conditions predicted for the upcoming weekend. The Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea issued a new formal notice to the owners of both the 'Christos XXIV' and the 'Varzuga', emphasizing the need to implement safety protocols to secure the convoy and ensure its safe passage. By 7:30 p.m., the crew of 'Christos XXIV' tensioned their towing wire, allowing the 'Abeille Liberté' to release its line, providing the necessary maneuverability for the convoy. At 8:35 p.m., the convoy began its transit towards Le Havre, a port of refuge designated by the towing company, and was escorted by the 'Abeille Liberté'. On May 7, additional support from tugs including 'Vb Longchamp', 'Vb Barfleur 18', 'Vb Octeville 11', and 'Vb Yport 12' strengthened the convoy for its final approach. Updates and more details can be found in the French report along with accompanying photos at the official maritime agency's site.

As of May 5, the emergency tug 'Abeille Liberté' remains steadfastly attached to the stranded tanker 'Varzuga', located 17 nautical miles from the shores of Saint-Vaast. This strategy aims to ensure the vessel's maneuverability in a safe area designated for the transfer of the tanker back to the towing vessel 'Christos XXIV', facilitating a secure resumption of navigation. To enhance safety during this critical operation, the CROSS Jobourg has mobilized the lifeboats 'SNS 086-Admiral Tourville' from the SNSM station Barfleur and 'SNS 21-President Jules Pinteaux' from the SNSM station in Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue. Additionally, the Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue Semaphore is actively monitoring maritime traffic in the vicinity of the convoy. With favorable weather conditions permitting, transfer operations commenced in the afternoon. As the 'Abeille Liberté' maintained its hold on the tanker, the 'Christos XXIV' initiated the installation of a new towing connection with assistance from the evaluation and intervention team of the Navy based in Cherbourg. Moreover, the maritime prefecture has sought input from the expertise of the Les Abeilles-salvage master to secure further assessments regarding compliance with the ongoing operation protocols. Once conditions are optimal, the convoy comprising the 'Christos XXIV' and 'Varzuga' is set to exit the open zone, while remaining under the vigilant escort of the 'Abeille Liberté' as it traverses French territorial waters.

On the evening of May 3, 2021, at 9:46 PM, the CROSS Jobourg received an urgent alert from the tug 'Christos XXIV', which was towing the 11,290 gross ton Russian tanker 'Varzuga' (IMO: 7500401) from Murmansk to a scrap yard in Aliaga. The incident occurred approximately 25 nautical miles south-southeast of Portland Bill as the towing line snapped at coordinates 50°11'36.0"N, 002°00'30.0"W. As a result, the tanker was left adrift at the entrance of the Casquets traffic separation scheme, located around 40 nautical miles northwest of Cherbourg, in waters under British jurisdiction. Initially, the British Coastguard managed the situation from the Solent Coastguard operation centre, but the challenging weather—with winds clocking 40 knots and gusts up to 60 knots—prevented any resumption of towing operations. On the morning of May 4, the abandoned tanker began to drift eastward, crossing into French waters, prompting CROSS Jobourg to take charge of the coordination at 8:30 AM. In response, the maritime prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea mobilized an assessment and intervention team to evaluate the conditions aboard the 'Varzuga'. The emergency tug 'Abeille Liberté' (IMO: 9308699) was dispatched along with a Caiman helicopter from the French Navy's Maupertus base, which deployed a ship safety inspector from Caen to the scene. At approximately 4:00 PM, safety personnel were successfully transferred to the 'Varzuga'. During this time, CROSS Jobourg issued a safety alert to warn nearby vessels, and the maritime prefecture formally notified the owner companies of both the 'Christos XXIV' and 'Varzuga', urging immediate action to stabilize the drifting tanker before 6:00 PM. At that hour, the decision was made to have the 'Abeille Liberté' take the 'Varzuga' in tow, with plans to escort the vessel to a safe area off Barfleur, where repairs to the towing apparatus could be conducted. By 7:15 PM, a towing connection was established, marking a significant step towards resolving the emergency situation and ensuring the safety of the ship and her crew.