2006 : Melbridge Bilbao, France

On Monday, November 12, the container ship Melbridge Bilbao (150 m long, 9,650 tonnes, carrying 218 containers) en route to Rotterdam ran aground around 7:20 a.m. at 17 knots on a rock west of Île de Molène, despite warnings from CROSS Corsen.

The sandy seabed and grounding at low tide, combined with rising tidal coefficients, allowed the vessel to be refloated in the early afternoon and towed by Abeille Flandre to the sheltered Berthaume Bay, where an inspection revealed a hull tear of approximately 20 meters. In the absence of significant IFO 380 fuel leakage, the ship was towed to Brest on November 13, having lost the contents of two tanks.

With the approval of the Port Authority of Brest, the ship was moored on the evening of November 13, immediately surrounded by a containment boom deployed by the French Navy, implemented by the Military Port Directorate and CEPPOL. On November 15, it was transferred to the large dry dock, where most of the fuel spilled into the dock through the hull breach as the water level reached the tanks.

Le Floch Dépollution was mobilized from November 30 for two weeks to clean the dry dock, slipways, and the Melbridge Bilbao’s hull.

• Approximately 10 personnel were mobilized.

• High-pressure washers and flushing lances were used to remove the pollutant.

• Recovery was performed using a FOILEX TDS 200 skimmer. Absorbent booms were also deployed for containment and recovery.

• The recovered pollutant was stored in a Pollutank (floating tank) and Fastanks.

• A rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) and a work platform facilitated the cleanup.

• A quad bike proved essential for moving along the docks, providing easy access and speed.