French Emergency Responders Rescue Product Tanker from Drifting Near Brittany Coast

Image Credit: French Navy’s Atlantic Maritime Prefecture

In a dramatic rescue operation on Saturday night, French emergency responders successfully saved the product tanker Larus. Due to a technical issue and worsening weather conditions, it had been drifting dangerously towards the Brittany coast.

Earlier in November, Larus encountered a mechanical failure while sailing off Oissant Island. To mitigate the situation, the tanker rerouted to the Bay of Saint-Brieuc, awaiting the arrival of a tugboat scheduled to tow it to a maintenance yard in Estonia for repairs. However, Storm Durragh's approach delayed the tug's arrival, and the Larus found itself at the mercy of heavy waves, struggling to stay clear of the rugged coastline.

As conditions worsened, the Larus' crew realized its anchor was dragging, and the vessel was slowly drifting towards the shore. At around 1600 hours on Sunday, they contacted the French rescue coordination center at Corsen for assistance.

In response, the French Navy's Atlantic Maritime Prefecture dispatched the rescue tug Abeille Bourbon to the scene. A second tug, closer at the Port of St. Malo, was also called for assistance, but it was forced to turn back due to the increasingly rough weather.

By 2345 hours on Sunday evening, Abeille Bourbon reached the distressed vessel. Unfortunately, despite its best efforts, the tug could not secure a tow due to the adverse conditions. At this point, the maritime prefecture made the critical decision to deploy a response team by helicopter. They were lowered onto the deck of the Larus and worked swiftly to establish a tow by 0430 on Monday morning.

With the tow now secure, the Abeille Bourbon began pulling the tanker to safety, heading toward the port of Brest. Throughout the operation, all 13 crew members of the Larus remained aboard the vessel, with a helicopter on standby in case of any further emergencies or the need for evacuation.

By the morning, the tanker was safely anchored in Brest's harbor, marking the successful conclusion of a tense and complex rescue operation under difficult weather conditions. Thanks to the quick actions of the French rescue teams, Larus and its crew were brought to safety without incident.

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This rescue highlights the tireless efforts of the French emergency services, particularly in the face of extreme weather and challenging maritime conditions. The crew of the Larus and maritime responders can now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that this high-stakes operation concluded successfully.