Vessel under tow after fire off Spanish coast

Spanish media are reporting that a 5164 grt cargo vessel, the OSTEDIJK, is releasing toxic gases after stranding off the Spanish north west coast.

The vessel, carrying fertilisers, had suffered a fire, reports say, on her way to Valencia and had sent out a distress call off La Coruna. Spanish government officials said the vessel was under tow to take it away from inhabited coasts.

The ship is operated by the Dutch company Navigia Groep. Previously she was called FLY, and was built by Ningbo Xinle Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, China in 2005.

In October 2006 she was detained for a week in Bordeaux with a total of 31 deficiencies, most of which related to her machinery. Although not given as grounds for detention, she also had 4 deficiencies in fire safety measures (Source: www.equasis.org)