An investigation has started into how a tugboat sank in the port of Barcelona, Spain after a collision with a MSC container ship at the end of June
A port authority in Spain is investigation how a 2016-built tugboat sank in the harbour while it was manoeuvring a Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) container ship on 30 June.
437-gt tug Cala Gullo sank with three crew members on board while guiding 330-m container ship MSC Cape Sounio in the port.
According to the Port Authority of Barcelona, the 31-m tug was supporting this 2017-built container ship as it departed from the Hutchison Ports Best terminal. During a turnaround manoeuvre, the Malta-flagged container ship’s bow struck the tug, which then severely listed before sinking stern first.
Port Authority of Barcelona immediately mobilised a standby pilot transfer vessel to the site, and it rescued the tug’s crew without any injury. There was no pollution from the sunken tug and refloating operations began.
The port authority is investigating the cause of the collision and the container ship has departed to Valencia, Spain, according to automatic identification system information.
