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LPG tanker awaiting emergency rescue tug off the coast of Pembrokeshire

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A LIBERIAN registered LPG tanker is awaiting rescue off the Pembrokeshire coast after developing engine trouble, The Herald can confirm.

The 100m long vessel, which has a carrying capacity of 4278 cubic metres, got into trouble after leaving Berth 5 at Valero Oil Refinery, in Milford Haven at 2048HRS on Wednesday evening (Feb 17).

The ageing ship, the Seagas Major, was incapacitated and drifting outside the harbour limits, and two tugboats were sent to stand-by and assist if possible. However, they were not able to tow the vessel back into port.

A source close to the incident told The Herald that the coastguard are overseeing the contracting-in of a large Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV)  from France, to rescue the 22-year-old tanker, which is now precariously anchored off Manobier in heavy seas.

Milford Haven’s current fleet of harbour tugs are not able to assist, its understood, due to the bad weather, and lack of a boat which can tow from the stern.

The relevant authorities will have been put on standby in case of any pollution arising from the incident.

It is understood that a pilot was onboard the vessel at the time of the breakdown. In heavy seas the harbour pilot stays on board a vessel and disembarks at another safer port. This is called “carrying over”

The Herald has contacted Valero, The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Pembrokeshire County Council and Milford Haven Port Authority for a comment.

Location of the stricken tanker

RESCUE TUGS SCRAPPED

In 2010, the Government announced as part of the Department for Transport’s share of cuts in the Comprehensive Spending Review, that the ETV fleet would be no longer be funded by the MCA from September 2011, saving £32.5m over the Spending Review period.

The Department stated that “state provision of ETVs does not represent a correct use of taxpayers money and that ship salvage should be a commercial matter between a ship’s operator and the salvor”

Embarrassingly for the government, there was an incident which would serve as a stark warning as to the inanity of their money-saving plan.

Two days after the announcement that the fleet was to be disbanded, one of the rescue tugs, the Anglian Prince, was sent to the aid of the UK’s newest nuclear submarine HMS Astute, which ran aground in Scotland during sea trials.

The current tanker in jeopardy comes almost 25 years to-the-day since the Sea Empress disaster, when in February 1996, that tanker split at the entrance to Milford Haven spilling 72,000 tons of crude oil into the sea. The spill cost £60m to clean up.

There have been no warnings of any risk of pollution from the ship currently in difficulty.

Further reading:

Sea Empress oil spill: 25 years since Wales’ biggest ecological disaster – Herald report from 2021

New pilot boats ‘not fit for purpose’ – Herald report from 2018

Report concludes LNG mooring lines were ‘not fit for purpose’ following accident – Herald report from 2017

 

Video: Seagas Major previously filmed, video available on YouTube.

Crime

Pembroke Dock resident faces court over dog control breaches

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PHILIP Murray, 52, of 11 Picton Place, Pembroke Dock, will appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Nov 14) to face several charges of breaching a community protection notice. The notice, issued under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, required Murray to control his dogs in response to repeated disturbances.

The charges relate to incidents from May to September 2024, when Murray allegedly failed to comply with the restrictions set out in a notice issued on January 3, 2024. Court documents state that despite multiple warnings, Murray continued to disregard the order, leading to ongoing issues linked to his dogs’ behaviour.

If found guilty, Murray could face a Level 4 fine for each offence. The hearing is scheduled to take place from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in Courtroom 1, presided over by the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Adult Panel.

The case underscores the role of community protection notices in addressing persistent anti-social behavior.

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Crime

Cilgerran driver banned for drug use on Cardigan high street

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A CILGERRAN motorist appeared before a district judge after driving on Cardigan High Street under the influence of cannabis.

On May 3, police officers on patrol detected a strong smell of cannabis from a Volkswagen Golf driven by Kim Haynes, 40.

A drugs wipe returned a positive result, with subsequent tests showing Haynes had 3.4 mcg of Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol in her blood, above the legal limit of 2.

Haynes, of Sun Cottage, Church Street, Cilgerran, pleaded guilty to driving over the specified drug-drive limit. She was fined and ordered to pay a total of £365, including costs and a court surcharge, and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

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Crime

Motorist disqualified after cannabis-fuelled traffic collision

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A 21-YEAR-OLD driver has been disqualified after a traffic pile-up on the A40 following cannabis use.

Officers attended Arnold’s Hill, Slebech, on March 29 in response to a multi-vehicle collision involving Kayleigh Taylor, 21, whose Toyota Aygo was on the opposite carriageway.

“There was a smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle, so a drugs wipe was conducted, which returned a positive result,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan. Further tests showed Taylor had 7.7 mcg of Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol in her blood, above the legal limit of 2.

Taylor, of Princess Royal Way, Haverfordwest, admitted to driving over the specified drug-drive limit and possessing 266.1 grams of cannabis found in her vehicle.

District Judge Mark Layton sentenced her to a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. She was disqualified from driving for 17 months, fined £80, and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

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