Tug boat sinks at Denia Port

A tug boat belonging to the Balearia ferry company, sank in Denia port, next to the fish market and the trawler fleet,  whilst moored at anchor within the port itself.

No one was on board at the time.

The sinking appears to have been caused by a “leak” according to sources, although for a boat to sink in dock without apparent prior warning (the crew were not on board) or without some other intervening occurrence, such as collision or bad weather, is very rare.

The sinking was reported at 6am and emergency services were soon on hand to both ensure that there was no fuel spillage from the submerged tug, and to effect a re-floating of the craft.

A protective floating barrier was placed on the surface above the tug to capture any leaked fuel within its confines, and two massive 13.5 metre cranes were used to winch the boat out of the water onto an awaiting flatbed lorry, in order to take it for inspection and determine why such an event occurred.

The rescue provided a spectacle for those present at the marina, and during the operation, other boats circulating in the area did so at an even slower pace than usual, to minimise their wakes hampering the rescue efforts.

By Paul Deed

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