Read Authentic Ratings for the Launkalnem

The Flinter America successfully departed from Waal Port in Rotterdam on February 20, following the completion of essential repairs. This vessel, which had been towed into the Rotterdam port on January 25, is now en route to Sillamae for its first stop after undergoing maintenance.

On January 25, 2023, at precisely 16:10, the British tugboat MTS Victory (IMO: 7510626) arrived in Rotterdam, bringing the cargo vessel Flinter America safely alongside. During the journey through the Maas River, the convoy was supported by the tug Tyfoon, hailing from Sliedrecht, which acted as a stern tug. The Flinter America was subsequently docked at the Noordpijp in the Northern Waal Port, marking a successful operation in maritime logistics. For those interested in visuals, you can view images from the event through these links: [Photo 1](http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2399117), [Photo 2](http://www.tugspotters.com/site/content/2016/01/mts-victory-met-flinter-america-2/), [Photo 3](http://www.tugspotters.com/site/content/2016/01/mts-victory-met-flinter-america/).

On January 21, 2016, the crew aboard the cargo ship "Flinter America" detected smoke emanating from the engine room while navigating through the Casquet traffic separation scheme. Originating from Djen Djen and headed to Rotterdam, the vessel became incapacitated and subsequently drifted off the coast of Alderney, approximately 30 miles from La Hague. The crew promptly communicated the emergency to the Maritime Operations Centre of the English Channel and North Sea, prompting CROSS Jobourg to dispatch the emergency tug "Abeille Liberté," which was already in the vicinity. A specialized team, including experts from the marine brigade, convened to evaluate the situation. At approximately 12:40 PM, an investigation team, bolstered by seven members from the marine brigade, took off in an EC 225 helicopter from the Navy base in Maupertus, equipped with 400 kg of emergency material. By 1 PM, the "Abeille Liberté" went on standby near the distressed vessel. Minutes later, the response crew was safely hoisted onboard to assess the situation. They confirmed that all 12 crew members were unharmed and free from intoxication. The fire had been brought under control, though several hotspots remained, notably on the upper deck. The marine brigade began cooling down these hotspots while monitoring air quality on board. An initial investigation revealed that a ruptured diesel fuel pipe had ignited the engine room. By 3:30 PM, the crew made attempts to restart the auxiliary generators but were unable to regain propulsion, posing a continued risk to navigation. Consequently, the maritime prefect authorized "Abeille Liberté" to tow the "Flinter America" to safety in Cherbourg, where the vessel anchored offshore. By early evening, the Navy's intervention teams were airlifted back to the helicopter, and a tug contracted by the shipowner was engaged to tow the vessel to Rotterdam. On January 22, the British tug "MTS Victory" (IMO: 7510626) was deployed to assist with the operation. For more information and images related to the incident, visit French news outlets: [La Manche Libre](http://www.lamanchelibre.fr/actualite-132822-avarie-et-debut-incendie-a-bord-un-cargo-en-manche.html) and [Normandie Actu](http://www.normandie-actu.fr/un-cargo-en-difficulte-dans-la-manche-vaste-operation-d-assistance_177140/).