Barge aground at Dunkerque West
- 5 March 2012 11:26157585An LNG terminal is under construction at Dunkerque West.
A large barge which is used to store stone which is transported across to where they are building the terminal has gone aground this morning.
A couple of tugs are trying to get it off the beach as it is approaching high water but it is blowing a hooley so will have to see how they get on.
They had to blow up an unexploded wartime bomb off the Western breakwater two or three days ago so their project is not without its difficulties.
The underwater explosion sounded very loud down in our engine room and the Chief Engineer thought it was some of his machinery blowing up!
- 5 March 2012 11:47157586Fascinating picture Ed. You can see there how difficult the conditions are. They have their work cut out, so good luck to them. Wind very unusual today..rather than consistently strong it is blowing very severe fairly frightening gusts. Dunkerque is probably more in the teeth of it.
The tug boats are in general operation here today too.email: dover7@msn.com - 5 March 2012 12:20157591Quite a dramatic pic above there Ed, it shows how tough and difficult it all is in such atrocious weather conditions. The tug boats certainly have their work cut out for them and of course Dunkerque is terribly exposed to all the elements.
- 5 March 2012 22:47157706Yes, stormy over on the French side today, Dover sheltered.
The barge had been towed off the beach by the time we arrived back in Dunkerque a few hours later and was moored alongside the Quai de Lorraine out of harms way.
- 5 March 2012 22:50157708thanks for that ed i was just about to get on the blower to the life boat coves.
