The LNG Tanker Catalunya Spirit
The Tugs Freedom and Liberty
Catalunys Spirit in tow stern first by the Freedom with the Liberty following
CG Helicopter hovering over the bow
A View of the ship from the stern of the Freedom
Another view from the Freedom
Iona McAllister passing her wire to the Freedom
The Atlantic Salvor arrives on scene
Atlantic Salvor with the ship in tow
On Febraury 11, 2008 the loaded LNG tanker Catalunya Spirit suffered a complete power failure and was reported adrift approximately 35 miles east of Provincetown, MA. The winds were out of the Northwest at 35 gusting to 50 kts. The stricken vessel was drifting towards Cultivator Shoals at approximately 2.7 kts
The Boston Towing and Transportation Tugs Freedom and Liberty were dispatched to assist if possible. The Freedom departed Boston at about 1330 and The Liberty departed about 45 minutes later with a CG rep aboard.
The two tugs travelled downwind about 100 miles. By the time they were on scene they had a following sea that was eye level with their wheelhouses. The Freedom arrived on scene at 2130 and was able to attach it's towing wire to the emegency towing gear on the stern of the ship inspite of the conditions. The Liberty arrived on scene about 45 minutes later and escorted the tow
The Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba was On Scene Commander
The Iona McAllister arrived on scene in the early morning hours of the 12th. She had been dispatched from Portland Maine. The Iona had come most of the way riding the trough of the seas
The Coat Guard used helicopters to bring tech reps to the vessel
The Freedom had about 1700 ft of wire out. The seas had calmed quite a bit by daylight.
By the afternoon of the 12th the seas had calmed enough for the Iona to hook into the tow along with the Freedom
Later in the day Donjon Marine's Atlantic Salvor arrived on scene
The Atalntic Salvor took the tow from the Freedom and Iona and towed the vessel to an area off of Salem Ma. where repairs were completed
