Freighter disabled off Spurn Head

The 'Wilson Skaw' suffered a disabled main engine on Sep 23, 2018, at 10.45 p.m. 18 miles northeast of Spurn Head, in position 53 44 51 N, 000 32 27 E. Whilst going to effect maintenance on the main engine, the engineer was unable to stop the engine and smoke was noticed from the shaft generator. The vessel anchored, and the engine was disabled. The fault was found to be broken piston rod on cylinder No.2, which could not be fixed in situ. The vessel has an auxiliary generator, allowing for all deck-side equipment, including anchor winches, to stay operational. As the generator would use about one tonne fuel per day and the vessel is carrying about 52 tonnes, there was not an issue with power to heave anchor. The ABP Humber tasked the tugs 'Welshman' and 'Nobleman' to assist. The plan for the 'Welshman' was to get alongside the vessel at around 11 p.m. and establish a tow to the Spurn Light Float buoy to meet the 'Nobleman' on Sep 25 at 2 a.m. in order to take it to the King George Dock, Hull, where it was safely berthed at 5.30 a.m. The vessel was en route from Leixoes to Hull with a crew of 10 on board, carrying 4929 tonnes of wood pellets.