"Although all of its crew escaped unharmed, the tanker -- and its cargo of almost 3,000 BMWs, Volvos and Saabs -- lay just below the surface. "
Cargo wreck obstructs Dover Straits
Sunday, December 15, 2002 Posted: 11:35 AM EST (1635 GMT)
DOVER, England -- Vessels using one of the world's busiest shipping lanes are being warned of a sunken wreck that is blocking the route.
The Tricolor, a Norwegian-registered car carrier, was carrying 30 million ($47.7m) worth of luxury cars when it sank in the English Channel in the early hours of Saturday following a collision with another vessel in fog.
Although all of its crew escaped unharmed, the tanker -- and its cargo of almost 3,000 BMWs, Volvos and Saabs -- lay just below the surface.
Images of the scene bore a chilling resemblance to the aftermath of the sinking of the passenger ferry 'Herald of Free Enterprise' in 1987 near Zeebrugge harbour.
Pollution experts and salvage crews were hoping to inspect the scene on Sunday in a bid to assess the feasibility of moving the wreck and containing its 2,000 tons of fuel oil.
But heavy fog was preventing the salvage operation assessment from been carried out.
While shipping is been warned of the 50,000-ton, 200-metre ship obstacle, the Dover Straits are expected to continue as normal, the French Coastguard said.
A coastguard boat is remaining alongside to alert other ships to the Tricolor's presence in the water.
It was carrying the cars from Zeebrugge, in Belgium, to Southampton, England.
The damage to the Kariba illustrates the force of the collision
In a statement, Per Ronnevig, spokesman for shipping firm Wilhelmsen Lines, which owned the carrier, said as well as the cars, the Tricolor was also transporting 77 other cargo units, which mainly consisted of tractors and crane parts.
The vessel was estimated to be worth 25.1 million ($39.9).
Ronnevig said the the cargo would probably have to be written off.
He said: "I think we must consider it lost. She probably capsized when she went down. It means that all the cars are probably lying in pieces down there."
The Tricolor sank after colliding with the container ship Kariba, which was said to be severely damaged.
The 175-metre, 20,829-ton cargo vessel Kariba was carrying containers and was on its way from Antwerp, in Belgium, to Le Havre, in France.
After the incident it limped back to Antwerp for damage inspection.
Investigators are due to question the crew of both vessels.
