On 6 December, the Maltese-flagged tug Boka Glacier, which was east of the Isle of Wight to shelter from Storm Darragh, broke its tow with one of its barges, the AMT Challenger, which began to drift into British waters.
On 7 December, the coordination of the operation to re-tow the barge was taken over by the Gris-Nez Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Centre (CROSS) after discussion with the British Coastguard. In particularly poor weather conditions, two tugs were sent to the area by the shipowner to try to re-tow the barge. However, due to the sea state and wind (up to 40 knots), the barge could not be re-towed.
The AMT Challenger barge then ran aground on 8 December on the coast near the town of Sotteville-sur-Mer. The operation of reconnecting the barge to its tug can only be implemented when more favourable weather conditions are observed, which was absolutely not the case. In the meantime, the barge remains under close radar observation by three tugs which remain in the area, monitoring in particular that it does not move.
Jointly, the Prefect of Seine-Maritime and the Prefect of the Channel – North Sea have notified formal notices to stop, as quickly as possible, the danger posed by the barge to the owners of the Dutch tug and the barge in question.
