Waasmunster Vessel Reviews and Specifications

The vessel 'Waasmunster' has successfully finalized repairs following a collision with the French fishing vessel 'Gros Lolou CN.721860' near Le Havre on July 15. After sustaining damage in the incident, the 'Waasmunster' underwent extensive repairs in Flushing, which lasted from July 10 to October 20. The ship made its first port of call at Karsto on October 29, marking a significant milestone in its recovery journey. Having completed the necessary work, the 'Waasmunster' set sail again on October 30, heading towards Wandelaar, with an estimated time of arrival on October 31.

In the early hours of July 15, 2016, at 2:10 AM, the French fishing vessel "Gros Lolou CN.721860", weighing 43.6 GT, collided with the gas tanker "Waasmunster", which was anchored in the waiting zone #3 off the coast of Le Havre after arriving from Mongstad. The tanker reported a serious issue with water ingress at 3:50 AM. By 8:30 AM, French Navy mine divers were airlifted onto the "Waasmunster" to conduct a hull inspection, where they discovered a 50x70 cm hole below the waterline. Subsequently, a magnetic sealing plate was successfully applied to the leak around 9:30 AM, effectively halting further water ingress. With safety measures in mind, the owner's team and captain consulted with the maritime prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea to initiate pumping operations to manage the water accumulation. After two hours of pumping, the "Waasmunster" hoisted anchor and began her journey toward Le Havre port, receiving support from local tugs, including the "Abeille Liberté" and "Gascogne", alongside maritime surveillance assets. The evaluation and intervention team, along with divers from the mine hunter "Croix de Sud", remained on board to monitor the situation. Approximately 10 nautical miles from Le Havre, the tanker paused to allow divers to verify the integrity of the closure plate, confirming that the leak was indeed secure. Continued pumping efforts effectively reduced the water levels inside the tanks. At around 6:15 PM, the convoy was nearing Le Havre, leading to the release of the Navy forces and the tugboat "Abeille Liberté". Eventually, the "Waasmunster" docked at Quay Sog at 7:30 PM. The vessel departed again on July 17 at 10:15 AM, setting course for Flushing with an estimated time of arrival on July 19. In a related incident, the "Gros Lolou" reported a leak at 7:00 AM while approximately seven miles off Port-en-Bessin. The SNSM lifeboat "Madonne des feux" was promptly dispatched to assist the fishing vessel. Additionally, the mine hunter "Croix de Sud" was mobilized by COM Cherbourg for further assistance. Thanks to the pumping resources of the SNSM boat, water ingress was controlled, allowing the fishing vessel to safely dock in Port-en-Bessin at 8:45 AM. For further information and visuals of the incident, visit the French reports here: [Premar Manche](https://www.premar-manche.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/suite-collision-entre-navire-peche-gazier-belge-zone-attente-havre.html), [Ouest France](http://www.ouest-france.fr/normandie/le-havre-un-navire-de-peche-entre-en-collision-avec-un-gazier-4369171), [La Manche Libre](http://www.lamanchelibre.fr/actualite-189756-calvados-un-chalutier-de-port-en-bessin-a-heurte-monstre-des-mers.html).

In a significant maritime incident, the French fishing ship GROS LOULOU collided with the anchored LPG tanker WAASMUNSTER at Le Havre anchorage during the early hours of July 15, 2023. According to the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Jobourg, radio communications between the vessels were intercepted around 0210 local time, confirming the mishap. GROS LOULOU, which sustained damage to its bow, reported no water ingress, while the WAASMUNSTER, loaded with a substantial cargo of 18,000 tons of butane, experienced a breach in its hull below the waterline, resulting in water intrusion. Salvage operations commenced promptly, with divers arriving aboard the tanker, and by 0520 local time, the breach had been effectively sealed, and the affected compartment was understood to be dried out. By 0700, GROS LOULOU informed MRCC Jobourg about minor water ingress, which was considered not critical. The fishing vessel successfully navigated back to port, docking in Port-en-Bessin at 0845. As of 1100 UTC on July 15, the WAASMUNSTER remained securely anchored at Le Havre anchorage, continuing to monitor the situation.