A major rescue operation was launched after a ro-ro lost power and grounded on a lighthouse rock off the UK on Monday.
The 3,923-lane-metre Mazarine (built 2009) drifted close to the Wolf Rock Lighthouse, nine miles (14.5 km) from the coast of Cornwall, south-west England at 09:10 local time.
Coastguard helicopters and a tug attended the scene, with lifeboats from Sennen Cove, Penlee and Lizard also heading out to the rock.
Luxembourg-based operator CLdN said the 22 crew and three passengers on board were safe and uninjured.
Gareth Shaw, rescue co-ordination centre manager at the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, told the BBC that after an initial assessment, it was decided the safest course of action was for the crew and passengers to remain on board.
Lifeboats and a helicopter remained on standby alongside the vessel in case an evacuation was ordered.
Shaw expected the operation to last into Tuesday.
“In a more safe place, the vessel will be reassessed and any damages will be looked at in detail, to assess the viability of it moving further and continuing on its passage,” he added.
A CLdN spokesperson said: “After running aground, two of the ballast tanks were breached and water ingress was reported, which has been since contained. The vessel is stable.”
No pollution had been reported.
CLdN activated its emergency response plan and notified all relevant authorities.
Ferry diverts to lighthouse
The Isles of Scilly Steamship Co said the 600-pax ferry Scillonian III (built 1977) “made a detour to Wolf Rock … and was on standby to support a vessel in distress”.
Trinity House, which owns and operates the lighthouse, said it was aware of the incident.
“There were no Trinity House personnel on the lighthouse at the time,” a spokesperson said.
The ship had been travelling from Ringaskiddy in Ireland to Zeebrugge in Belgium.
AIS data showed the ro-ro with “restricted manoeuvrability” on Tuesday morning.
The Malta-flag vessel has insurance cover through Gard in Norway.
The Mazarine has no port state control detentions on its record.
But in Rotterdam last January, six deficiencies were found, including a malfunctioning machinery control alarm, crew unfamiliar with fire safety, inoperative means of controls for fire pumps and unsafe areas on board.
These deficiencies were reported rectified and closed during a port state inspection in Dublin in May 2022.
