The Unified Command at Coast Guard Sector Boston is continuing to monitor and assist the Liquefied Natural Gas tanker Catalunya Spirit, which lost propulsion and became disabled and adrift east of Cape Cod Monday morning.
Teekay Corporation, which operates the Catalunya Spirit, contracted four tugboats and three technical representatives to assist the tanker. The tugboats Freedom and Liberty arrived on scene with the tanker about 10 p.m., Monday. The Freedom placed the Catalunya Spirit under tow, stopping the tanker's southeasterly movement, and is slowly heading west to a temporary offshore location, while conducting repairs.
The tug Iona McAllister is also on scene standing by. The salvage tug, Atlantic Salvor, is expected to arrive at 1 p.m., Tuesday to assist as necessary.
A Coast Guard marine inspector and two contracted technical representatives are on the Catalunya Spirit and an additional Coast Guard marine inspector is aboard the tug Liberty, which is on scene with the tanker. Today, an aircrew from Air Station Cape Cod is scheduled to transport a class society representative from Lloyds, and an additional technical representative, and additional Coast Guard personnel.
Though the vessel has not suffered any structural damage or released any substance, as part of the response plan, Coast Guard Sector Boston has notified the National Strike Team and is helping to coordinate salvage and pollution response assets. Additionally, the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba is on scene.
Aren't these ships supposed to be like super reliable, with redundant back-up systems? The Catalunya Spirit evidently was done in by a computer glitch which shut down its boilers. Not a good thing to happen when you're cruising off Cape Cod in a wintery gale. Some consider liquified natural gas dangerous, like it goes KABLAM if the containment cracked as the ship runs around on a ledge. But what do I know?
To lose that ship our captain cried, It grives me heart full sore; But to be done in by a computer crash, It grives me ten times more, brave boys, It grives me ten times more!