Countdown to Elbe refloat of grounded giant boxship
Authorities spent the weekend prepping for tomorrow’s refloat operation of the giant CSCL Indian Ocean. The 400 m long, 19,000 teu containership ran aground on the river Elbe on February 2 en route to the port of Hamburg. With earlier efforts by tugs to dislodge it, efforts are now focused around Tuesday’s spring tide.
In the meantime, bunkers and ballast water have been discharged from the ship, one of the largest to ever transit the Elbe river. Dredgers have also come alongside to deepen the waterway (see video).
The ship’s travails have come under closer scrutiny over the weekend with news that it lost its starboard anchor and around 100 m of anchor chain before entering the river.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbebFETzesA
Thanks for the update. We in the USA are watching this with interest and wish the salvage crews good luck tomorrow in the refloat!