URUGUAY REEFER
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No pollution observed and expected after sinking
No oil pollution was observed after the "Uruguay Reefer" finally sank 350 miles from Berkeley Sound and 210 miles outside the Falkland Islands Conservation Zone at 6.000 meters of water. The "Frio Las Palmas" and the tug "Otway" which the owners hired to assist the stricken vessel remained in the area and collected any minor debris, including her fenders, which could have posed a threat to safe navigation. Because of the low temperatures, any fuel will have solidified at a depth of 6.000 meters and the quantities of other potential pollutants were negligible and would quickly disperse. The master believed the massive water ingress was caused when the vessel struck an ice floe. The Uruguay Reefer was fully laden with a cargo of squid and krill. The position where the damage occurred, the fact that she was so far from a safe harbour and the fact that she continued to suffer an ingress of water, made the efforts to salvage the vessel and her cargo impossible. Baltmed Reefer Services commended the Master and crew of the reefer for their courage, the Falklands patrol boat "Protegat" and its crew, as well as the masters of the two other vessels that took part in the rescue operation, the the "Taganronskiy Zaliv" and the "Frio Las Palmas" for their exemplary courage and seamanship as well all the authorities involved for their valuable assistance in this difficult operation.
Reefer sank under tow
The "Uruguay Reefer" sank in the vicinity of pos. 49 30S 049 00W on May 16, 350 miles nw of Port Stanley. Both the tug "Otway" and the reefer "Frio Las Palmas" left the area and were heading towards the Falkland Islands. At 5 a.m. the convoy had still been moving northwards at 3.5 knots speed.
Sinking reefer under tow
On May 15, the "Uruguay Reefer" was taken in tow by the Chilean tug "Otway", 428 gt (IMO: 9384394), which had been called from Punta Arenas. The convoy with the "Frio Las Palmas" still as an escort was moving northwards at slow speed on May 16.
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