Tanker VARZUGA, understood unmanned and on tow, to Aliaga scrap yard Turkey, broke loose from towline in the afternoon May 4 in English Channel north of Cherbourg France. Tanker was taken on tow by French SAR ship ABEILLE LIBERTE, with assisting tugs CHRISTOS XXIV (IMO 7041625) and MUSTANG, and towed inshore, west of Le Havre. As of 0520 UTC May 5, caravan was slowly moving in area west of Le Havre, understood fixing problems in order to resume towage. According to tracks, tanker is under tow of tug CHRISTOS XXIV, from Murmansk Russia to Aliaga Turkey, ETA May 26. Towage commenced on Apr 17, tanker AIS is off since Dec last year.
Ice-class product tanker VARZUGA, IMO 7500401, dwt 16038, built 1977, flag ?, owner ?
