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A&P RESPOND TO GROUNDED RUSSIAN CARGO-SHIP

Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company (FDEC) part of the A&P Group, has praised the agility of its marine operations team as they worked as part of the emergency response effort for the Russian vessel Kuzma Minin, which ran aground in Falmouth Bay during gale force winds yesterday (Tuesday 18th December 2018).  

Drystan Jones, Port Operations Director for the Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company commended the collaborative efforts of the towage team, which were briefed, deployed and on the water within an hour of the requests from the Coast Guard.  

The emergency response required a collaborative effort between local organisations and included the despatch of a Coast Guard helicopter, re-floating the stricken cargo-ship during high tide and towing it to safety with three of A&P Group’s tugs.  The 16,000-tonne vessel is now safely anchored again and will now undergo inspection by the authorities. 

Drystan said: “Despite the very testing and tricky conditions, the FDEC team delivered a very impressive, swift and professional response and we are exceptionally proud of their efforts.   

“From the Coast Guard’s initial response yesterday, we had three harbour tugs on stand-by and worked as part of a combined emergency response team with the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and the Marine Coast Guard Agency (MCA).  We are grateful to Fowey Harbour Commissioners also, who provided a fourth tug in time to support the extraction of the stricken vessel.  We are delighted that the vessel has now been safely re-anchored without any incident and that a positive outcome has been achieved.  

“This result could only be achieved through the quick-thinking and expertise of the tug crews and the strength of cooperation between all parties.”  

David McGinley, Managing Director of Atlantic and Peninsula Marine Services Ltd said “I am delighted by the team’s response to the stricken cargo ship and their role in helping to avert a potential environmental disaster.”


Mark Sansom, Falmouth Harbour Master said:  “This has been a successful and well-coordinated operation involving multiple agencies. We would like to recognise the outstanding performance of the pilot and of all vessel crews involved in what was a very demanding incident.”

Kuzma Minin
Kuzma Minin - December 2018