What Crew Members Say About Snaefell-River

On August 26, 2021, the cargo vessel 'CEG Orbit', operating under the name 'Leila', found itself aground near the Isle of Man due to an unexpected situation involving the chief officer. The ill-timed washroom visit occurred shortly after 2 a.m. when the officer was struck by severe intestinal pain. As a result, he urgently left the bridge unattended, which subsequently allowed the vessel to drift off course. Loaded with wheat grains and traveling from Liverpool to Belfast, the ship had a crew of five members at the time. The Isle of Man Registry noted that the standing orders from the ship's Master explicitly state that the bridge must not be deserted without proper coverage. The regulations require that a relieving officer be called to ensure safe navigation in such instances. Despite this lapse, thankfully, no injuries were reported nor were there any negative impacts on the surrounding wildlife or pollution in the area related to the incident. The vessel was successfully refloated the following day. In light of the grounding, the Isle of Man authorities have reached out to Latvian officials, where the 'Leila' is registered, to discuss any necessary follow-up actions regarding the incident.

In the early hours of August 26, 2023, the Isle of Man Ship Registry initiated a preliminary investigation regarding the grounding incident of the 'CEG Orbit' at Cranstal. This inquiry is conducted on behalf of the Latvian authorities, the flag state of the vessel. Following the incident, the 'CEG Orbit' was successfully salvaged by the tugs 'Wendy Ann' from Laxey Towing Company and the 'CT Vector' from Liverpool. The vessel has since been transported to Douglas, where a thorough assessment for potential damage ensued.

In a remarkable operation, the 'CEG Orbit' has been successfully refloated after running aground at Cranstal on August 26 at 2 a.m. This marks the second attempt by Laxey Towing Company, which employed the tug 'Wendy Ann' alongside Liverpool's 'CT Vector' to tow the vessel back into the water during high tide on August 27, between 2 and 3 a.m. Prior to this successful endeavor, diggers were brought in to clear away rocks surrounding the grounded ship, easing the towing process. Once the 'CEG Orbit' was afloat, it was escorted to the South Quay of Douglas for inspection. Divers are set to survey the hull for any potential damage caused by the grounding. Throughout the incident, the five crew members remained onboard, adhering to the island's Covid protocols. Notably, the first attempt to refloat the vessel later on August 26 was unsuccessful. For more detailed reports and photos on the event, see the following links: [Manx Radio](https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/ceg-orbit-successfully-refloated/), [Manx Radio](https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/first-attempt-to-refloat-cargo-ship-fails/), [Three FM](https://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/ceg-orbit-back-in-the-water/), [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-58356190), [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-58342316).