Beira port: Operation to put re-float grounded freighter underway

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Beira port: Operation to put re-float grounded freighter underway

1:28 CAT | 04 Jun 2020

Photo: Noticias

On Wednesday, the process of re-floating the Portuguese cargo ship grounded by a malfunction in the Porto da Beira access channel to since last Friday got underway.

The operation, involving tugs and other boats from the public company Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM), may take as long as five days.

The stranded vessel, the ‘Minna’, is a large craft, 220 metres long and with 11.5 metres of draught, CFM spokesperson Adélio Dias told Noticias.

The vessel encountered steering problems in the Macuti curve at 16.55 hours on May 26th while departing the Port of Beir after unloading, Adélio Dias explained.

The damage caused the vessel to stray from the safe channel, and it ran aground 145 meters away.

The shallow seas mean attempts to re-float the vessel can only take place at high tide.

Bound for the Port of Nacala, the Minna vessel still has more than 4,500 containers on board, but, because of its position, does not constitute an obstacle to other cargo vessels wishing to access the port.

By Horácio João

Source: Noticias