Grimaldi Group makes an announcement about the Grande America sinking. The company says that it is focusing on antipollution measures to control the possible sea pollution.
Grimaldi Group’s press release:
Following the sinking of the RoRo container vessel Grande America, the Grimaldi Group wishes to make the following update.
At the moment of the incident, the Grande America had onboard freight composed of rolling units, containers and some general cargo, loaded in Antwerp and Hamburg with destination Casablanca (Morocco), Dakar (Senegal), Conakry (Guinea), the Brazilian ports of Suape, Vitoria, Rio de Janeiro, Santos and Paranagua, Zarate (Argentina) and Montevideo (Uruguay).
Total vehicles onboard were 2,210, with new ones being 1,298 (originating from the major vehicle manufacturers).
Containers onboard were 365, with 247 stowed on the weather deck and the remaining on the lowest deck. 78% of the units were bound to South America and the rest to West Africa (mainly Casablanca). Containers with IMO-classified hazardous cargo were 45, 34 of which stowed on the weather deck and the rest inside the vessel.
With reference to the carriage of IMO-classified cargo, the Grimaldi Group has already in place a very stringent policy, beyond the class requirements for this vessel, with over 100 commodities specifically banned (including explosives, radioactive, corrosive and toxic material, etc.).
In the framework of its antipollution plan, the Grimaldi Group has immediately dispatched in the place of sinking of the Grande America the Anchor Handling Supply vessel Union Lynx which is monitoring any ship’s fuel spill and is organising the recovery of any floating container.
A Grimaldi-appointed team of experts in marine casualties and pollution prevention is already in Brest in order to monitor the environmental situation and advise any further measures, always in coordination with the French Authorities.
Moreover, in agreement with the French Authorities, the Grimaldi Group will undertake a submarine survey of the wreck, located at 4,600 metres sea depth, by means of the vessel Pourquoi Pas, equipped with a modern ROV (Remotely Operated Vessel).
