Grande-Colonia

On the foremidday of Jan 20, 2026, the 'Grande Colonia', enroute from Tanger-Med, suffered an engine failure off the Cape Gris-Nez. The vessel was no longer maneuverable and had begun to drift. After unsuccessful repair attempts by the crew, the ship dropped anchor, while awaiting a contract for towing to the port of Flushing. The CROSS Gris-Nez notified the emergency tug 'VB Abeille Normandie' (IMO: 9442421), which was on standby in Boulogne-sur-Mer, to provide assistance if needed. The tug 'Centaurus' (IMO: 9433755)was deployed the same afternoon from Rotterdam by Grimaldi, but it announced that it would not arrive on scene until the following day.On the night of Jan 20, at around midnight, the combination of wind and tidal currents the anchor began to drag. The CROSS Gris Nez now mobilised the 'VB Abeille Normandie' to provide assistance. The French Navy's Dauphin helicopter, based in Le Touquet, was also deployed to winch two crew members of the tug and the necessary towing equipment onto the 'Grande Colonia'. On Jan 21 at around 4:30 a.m., the 'VB Abeille Normandie' managed to take the vehicles carrier in tow and secured it, while awaiting the 'Centaurus' from Rotterdam, which arrived on scene at around 12:30 p.m. However, it failed in its first two attempts to take over the tow. Only at aound 4:00 p.m. the towing connection was successfully established. The 'V Abeille Normandie' was then able to release its own towline, retrieve the two crew members and equipment and return to Boulogne-sur-Mer. The convoy left the CROSS Gris-Nez area around 11:30 p.m. and arrived in Flushing on Jan 22 at noon, where also the tugs 'VB Jade' (IMO: 9365142), 'VB Emerald' (IMO: 9314296), and 'VB Sterling' (IMO: 9120164) joined to get the ship to the Damen Shipyard for repairs. Photos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ayq4xJrRJ/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17tdhemqDN/

The 53 year old master of the 'Grande Colonia', which was moored at the Valéncia anchorage, was medevaced in the morning of Jan 18, 2020, by the SAR helicopter Helimer 202. An SAR boat and the helicopter were mobilised to the site for the transfer of the patient to the La Fe de València hospital for medical treatment at 12.30 a.m. The response was coordinated by the CCS of Salvamento Maritímo. The 'Grande Colonia' had arrived from Civitavecchia on Jan 13 at 11.20 p.m. and dropped anchor in pos. 39° 24.12' N 000° 16.57' W.

The 53 year old maser of the 'Grande Colonia', which was moored at Valéncia anchorage, was medevaced in the morning of Jan 18, 2020, by the helicopter Helimer 202. A boat and the Helimer 202 helicopter were mobilized to the site for the transfer to the La Fe de València hospital for treatment at 12.30 a.m. The medevac was carried out by Salvamento Maritímo. The vessel had arrived from Civitavecchia on Jan 13 at 11.20 p.m. and dropped anchor in pos. 39° 24.12' N 000° 16.57' W.

On Apr 12 at 5 p.m. the "Grande Colonia" entered the port of Vigo with tug assistance, coming from Antwerp, after an engine damage had occurred. As the extent of the damage was unknown, the length of the unexpected stay at the Transatlantc Quay could not yet be determined. The ship had already encountered problems with the main engine on Apr 5 while enroute from Portbury, Bristol, to Antwerp, and again on Apr 6. She had berthed in Antwerp on Apr 7 at 5 a.m. and sailed again on Apr 9 at 12.15 a.m. Spanish report with photo: http://www.farodevigo.es/gran-vigo/2018/04/12/buque-cochero-amarra-terminal-cruceros/1871542.html

The "Grande Colonia" suffered electrical problems in position 49 57.638N, 005 42.250W, five miles from Runnel Stone and 5,86 miles from Gwenapp Head on Apr 5, 2018. The vessel was changing fuel oil from the injection pump. It was en route from Portbury, Bristol, to Antwerp with 2,177 vehicles on board. At 9 p.m. the crew tested the main engine. The repairs were finally completed at 9.15 p.m. On Apr 6 at 10 p.m. the same problem occurred again. The ship continued the voyage to Antwerp at 11.15 p.m. after completing the necessary repairs. It berthed at the Antwerp Euroterminal NV on Apr 7 at 5 a.m.