Giant cargo ship runs aground just 45 minutes after leaving the Southampton port

A cargo ship carrying bulk cargo of automobiles and construction equipment runs aground in the English Channel. It was reported that the sea cargo vessel which was carrying Jaguar and Land Rover cars for Asian countries apparently suffered from a technical problem.

This happened just after 45 minutes of leaving the port between England and Isle of Wight. The crew of the carrier deliberately beached the ship on Bramble Bank and prevented it from capsizing altogether.

The sea cargo carrier is called the Hoegh Osaka. It is a 590 feet long automobile carrier registered in Singapore. It weighs almost 57,000 ton when unloaded and was carrying 1400 vehicles on board when the problem occurred.

The majority of the vehicles on board were Jaguar and Land Rover models, however, 65 Mini models and several Rolls-Royce models were also on board. The cargo carrier was also carrying 80 heavy duty construction machinery and its next stop was Bremerhaven, Germany. All crew members are safe and no serious injuries have been reported by the hospital sources, said The Telegraph.

Telegraph also reported that the ship is now resting on the Bramble Bank sandbar, “it is the scene of an annual cricket match between two yachting clubs when the sands are exposed in low spring tides.”

Officials said that they have a lot of time to refill the ship and move it away from the club’s playground.  The ship operator, HoehAutoliners, also admired crew’s efficiency and quick thinking about preventing the cargo ship from capsizing.