80 metre cargo ship gets stuck in River Arun at Littlehampton
West Sussex has seen its own, smaller version of the Suez Canal blockage...
It may not be quite as big or well-known as the Suez Canal... but Littlehampton Harbour can claim something in common with its contemporary in Egypt after a large cargo ship got stuck there.
The 80 metre ELISE became wedged on the seabed in the River Arun early on Tuesday morning (March 30th).
A spokesperson for the harbour said the vessel drifted out after one of its mooring lines parted at just after 3.30am.
The boat contained 2,600 tonnes of roundstone which had been loaded on at Antwerp in Belgium.
Part of the harbour was closed to craft while operations began to refloat the ELISE and move her to her berth in the harbour.
Tugs and workboats were called out to get ELISE safely in position, with the route being cleared as of 1.45pm on Tuesday,
Littlehampton Harbourmaster Harry Gregory said:
"During this period two small commercial fishing vessels were delayed by approximately two hours in their return to their moorings with their day’s catch.
"A small number of leisure vessels moored at Littlehampton Marina or further up the River Arun were also delayed in their day’s trip out to sea by up to 3 hours.
"I would like to thank all those who were delayed in their use of this part of the harbour for their cooperation as well as all those involved in the operation to move the vessel back to berth."