Grimaldi Lines Grande Europa (1998/51,714gt) suffered complete loss of power early on Sunday 29 November while she was en route for Southampton from Antwerp.
After the car carrier had been drifting for several hours off the Sussex coast, the Dutch tug Multratug 29 (2018/450grt ) attended the scene, and was able to get a line aboard while the car carrier’s crew fought desperately to drop the ship’s anchors in a position off Rye.
Grande Europa was en route from Baltic and Northern European ports to Southampton to load more cars before sailing to the Italian port of Salerno. When fully loaded, she can carry up to 2,500 cars and 400 containers.
Multratug 29 took Grande Europa in tow to a point off Bembridge before handing over the tow to two Southampton tugs, Svitzer Eston (2014/299gt) and the larger escort tug Svitzer Mercurius (2014/447gt).
Grande Europa finally reached its berth at Southampton late on the 30th November where the full extent of the repairs will be assessed.
Grande Europa was previously in trouble during May 2019 when off the island of Majorca, when fire swept through part of the accommodation. On this occasion, it was found to be arson, and three crew members were arrested by Spanish police.
