In December 2018, we awoke to the national news of a tanker moored in Falmouth Bay during a storm, that had dragged her anchor and blown onto the rocks between Gyllyngvase Beach and Swanpool. The fear was that her hull could be damaged and her tanks could rupture and leak the contents into our surrounding waters. This was serious and if fears were proved correct, could have a massive and lasting effect on our local ecology, with the knock on impact to local fishermen and businesses being immense.
Like everyone in the town, I had to go and have a look. I grabbed the camera and headed towards Swanpool. As I came down Swanpool Hill, I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. This massive tanker grounded between our two most popular beaches.
I started photographing from the coast path and continued all the way along my walk to Gyllyngvase.
To see all the various crews including the lifeboat, the tugs, coastguard and pilot vessels going to work to prevent what could be a huge disaster for our area was impressive and reassuring.
The biggest issue was this was the highest spring tide of the month and levels would be dropping after this, the only chance of getting the stricken vessel off the rocks. If it didn’t happen then, there would be another month until the next opportunity and who knows what state the hull would be in with another month of weather taking its toll.
Thankfully . . . the professionalism, experience and knowledge of all the crews involved working together, managed to ease her off the rocks just in time before the tide dropped.
In my eyes, this averted what could have been an absolute disaster for our area.
Thank you to all involved!
This is my depiction of the scene I first witnessed.
A limited edition Giclée print from an original oil painting.
Edition Size: 500
Price range: £125.00 through £185.00
Please note, all print dimensions are in inches.
All Limited Edition Prints are either Giclée or Lithographic reproduction on 300gsm card. Edition numbers of the print run are indicated in the details for each available artwork.
All prints are individually titled, signed and numbered by the artist.
Any prints ordered will be rolled in a large diameter tube and sent by ‘Recorded Signed For™’ delivery.
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