COPENHAGEN - Attempts to refloat a Greek oil tanker carrying 81,000 tonnes (89,300 tons) of crude oil that ran aground east of the Danish island of Samsoe failed on Tuesday, a Danish navy spokesman said.
"Two Danish tugships attempted to pull her loose twice on Tuesday with the help of the rising tide, but failed," Kjeld Gaard, spokesman for the Admiral Danish Fleet Headquarters (SOK), told AFP.
The Minerva Concert ran aground late Monday after straying out of shipping lanes en route from the Danish port of Frederica to Rotterdam.
"Everything indicates that the tanker is stuck too deep as her tanks are filled to the top. We will need to lighten her load in order to pull her out," Gaard said.
He said the insurance company was "developing a new plan to refloat the tanker with other ships transferring some of the load", adding: "Another attempt will be made within the next two days."
Gaard said the area had been examined by two Danish anti-pollution vessels but there was no sign of an oil spill near the double-hulled tanker.
Aristotelis Ianniou, chief executive officer of the shipping company, told AFP in Athens that the accident was caused by a crack in the ballast in the front of the vessel.
Ianniou blamed the incident on an error made by one of the two Danish pilots who were onboard to guide the ship.
The 150,000 tonne (165,346 ton) tanker, which measures 320 metres (1049 feet) in length and 40 meters (131 feet) in height, was built in 2003 and carries a crew of 23 men.
The passage between Hatter Barn and Hatter Rev where the tanker hit ground is considered one of the most dangerous in the region with several similar incidents in recent years.
05/15/2007 17:34 GMT