(21 Sep 1995) English/Nat
Tugboats Wednesday evening managed to pull a cross-Channel ferry from a sandbank off Calais where it had been stranded for nearly 24 hours.
The Stena Challenger and its 245 passengers and crew were pulled into open sea almost an hour before high tide.
The Stena Challenger had been en route to Calais from Dover, England, when it ran
aground Tuesday evening on a beach just off the French port.
The vessel was waiting for clearance to proceed into the harbour further when it began running into trouble.
Propelled by strong winds, it drifted toward the coastline and into shallow waters.
An attempt to refloat it was made at Wednesday morning's high tide.
But the attempt was abandoned after a tow line dropped by helicopter broke.
Rough seas prevented rescuers from approaching the ship.
The next attempt to refloat the vessel was made at high tide in the evening.
Two ocean-going tugs approached the vessel - one of them freed the Stena Challenger at about 2000 GMT.
The ferry finally arrived in the port of Calais at 2130 GMT, about 24 hours late.
Passengers disembarking seemed none the worse for their unintended stopover.
VOXPOP:
"We had rough sea. Then there were movements that were unusual, unnatural, we felt it. I went outside and I looked in the water and it was all brown and we didn't move at all. So I thought OK, that's it, we're on a sand bank.
VOXPOP:
"We drank Coke because we could not buy beer. They gave us two bottles of beer."
(Question: You only got two bottles of beer in two days?)
"Yes, it's enough......"
VOXPOP:
"Well, it happens. A van could have broken down. It just happens doesn't it?"
(Question: And how do you feel you were looked after?)
"Very well, yes, in general very good."
The Stena Challenger can carry up to 500 passengers and 480 cars.
On this trip, it carried 30 cars and 73 freight vehicles, some of them transporting livestock.
Earlier in the day, a vet had been winched aboard to check on the animals.
Ferry owners Stena Sealink Line has not yet determined what caused the grounding but initial inquiries didn't show engine failure.
French, British and company officials would conduct independent investigations.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...