Car carrier FIGARO safe after drifting off Lands End
Tugs assisted and with engines restarted, giant vessel proceeded to Falmouth ..


A giant car carrier, the FIGARO, is now on her pay to port, after first being towed towed by the Coastguard tug ANGLIAN PRINCESS and then, after the tow rope parted, under her own power.

The FIGARO's owners had also called in a commercial tug , the SUHAILI from Falmouth to assist.

The Coastguard initially escorted the 50,681 ton, high sided vessel on her way and then returned to Mounts Bay as the SUHAILI took over as escort.

The drama began after losing power at 5pm yesterday (6th December) as she headed with a cargo of over 2500 vehicles to Bristol from the port of Santander.

In gale force 8 conditions, and in a heavy swell and poor visibility, her engines failed and it was feared she may have drifted towards the Wolf Rock, six miles of Cornwall's coast, but thankfully, although she did so initially, she then drifted in an easterly direction out of danger.

The FIGARO, built in 1981, is owned and operated by Wallenius of Singapore and has a crew of 30, all of whom are safe and well.