Container ship ‘deliberately grounded’ on Bramble Bank in the Solent

Laura Hodgetts
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The container ship APL Vanda was deliberately run aground on West Bramble Bank in the Solent on Saturday night following ‘a loss of power’.

The grounding, in the entrance to Southampton Water, is the same location where just over a year ago, the stricken Hoegh Osaka cargo ship was deliberately beached.

Eight tugs and Calshot RNLI lifeboat volunteers attended the scene of the APL Vanda grounding on Saturday night.

APL Vanda aground in the Solent on Bramble Bank. Credit Shane Thornton @iowimages

APL Vanda aground in the Solent on Bramble Bank. Credit Shane Thornton @iowimages

The 368m (1,207ft) ship had left Le Harve, France earlier on Saturday en route for the Port of Southampton, however the grounding was carried out on Bramble Bank shortly before 22:00.

By just after midnight on Sunday, the APL Vanda had been moved into deep water by the tugs sent by Port of Southampton Vessel Traffic Services (VTS).

A 250m exclusion was set up surrounding the stricken vessel as work got underway to test the engines and assess any damage.

By yesterday afternoon, the container ship had been escorted safely into Southampton Port.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said the large container ship (369m x51m) executed a controlled grounding at Bramble Bank, in Southampton Water, following a loss of power: ‘The container ship refloated and made its way to its berth under its own steam, with the tugs as escort.

The spokesman added: ‘At this time no damage or pollution has been reported, the Coastguard continue to monitor the situation.’