Watching the news this morning I understand that a ship carrying new Saabs & Volvos from Norway into the UK has sunk. http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif This accounts for 2800 new vehicles...

This is of particuular concern to me as I was expecting to pick up my Saab 9-3ss on Wednesday from Saab City (London uk). This looks a little unlikely now..

I have spoken with Saab City today but they were not aware of the incident and said "it would clearly impact a number of pre-Christmas delivery Saabs"

Story Here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2575009.stm) but no mention of the type of cars onboard.
Neil(9000CS23T) have you got any snorkel gear? It's gone down in your neck of the woods

The Tricolor had picked up its cargo of 2,862 cars and 77 containers in Zebrugge, Belgium and was on its way to Southampton, said Per Ronnevig, spokesman for its owners, shipping firm Wilhelmsen Lines. *[/b]...which would lead me to believe that it is probably full of German cars as I think Saabs and ovloV would be loaded up in Gothenburg - since that is where ovloVs are made and Saab is only one hour north of there.

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectI...9DA22C0035769D0 (http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=FF96CE2D-B1B5-4575-99DA22C0035769D0) but it had some BM's on board

Uh-oh! http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif

volvo v40s and s40s are built in holland.

But I doubt if you were expecting to pick your car up on wednesday, they were shipping it just now. Your car would have to clear customs, be tranported to a distribution centre, the delivered to your dealer, who would have to pdi it, and fit dealer options etc, before valet etc, so that you can pick it up. I imagine your car would have been shipped almost two weeks ago..

I thought Saabs were imported via Immingham oop North (near Grimsby) which they opened up about 20 years or so ago.

And I think V70s are made in Belgium

If you look here:
schedule (http://www.wlna.com/vesselSchedule/schedules/eurin.XLS)
The ship concerned left gothenburg on the 9th December... and looking here: swedish article (http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,239321,00.html) reading what i can of swedish, they may have been destined for the US market...
The ship was due in the states on 24th December http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Gents you folks are most helpful...

Given Mark_A's point about my expected delivery date of this Wednesday I am now much more hopeful that my 1.8 Vector may be safely stowed in a dry location waiting to be transported on Monday to my Saab dealer... http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/fawlty.gif

At least there were some BMWs that suffered the same fate - a small but nevertheless notable consolation.

I will let you know if my motor was amongst the shipment.

Just checked on Sky News and there were over 2800 "Top of the Range BMW's, Volvo's and Saabs" on board. Surely this will seriously affect deliveries. Anyone know how many Saabs were on board?

Originally posted by Kevin Mc:
Just checked on Sky News and there were over 2800 "Top of the Range BMW's, Volvo's and Saabs" on board. Surely this will seriously affect deliveries. Anyone know how many Saabs were on board?[/b]My swedish isn't to hot ... but it could've been 500 saabs destined for the USA...

Även Saab räknar med vissa förseningar i leveranserna i USA. De 500 bilarna ska dock snabbt kunna ersättas.
*- Det handlar om en eller två dagars produktion, säger Niklas Andersson, informationschef på Saab Automobile, till aftonbladet.se.
*- Det är klart att det är allvarligt när en båt sjunker med 500 bilar. Men det ska inte behöva bli några gigantiska förseningar.
*Ingen människa skadades när de två fraktfartygen rammade varandra, men det ena fartyget gick till botten med sin värdefulla last.[/b]

Originally posted by Leon (murphwiz):
QUOTE
ena fartyget gick till botten[/b][/b][/quote]This has got to be something to do with BMW ownership

Terrible waste of Saab's but, does it enlighten us more as to the meaning of BMW - Ballast Making Wardrobes?

deited for typos.

I've just read this on a news site,
Thick fog is hampering efforts to salvage £30 million worth of luxury cars from the bottom of the English Channel after a cargo ship transporting them sank.

*[/b]And what will happen to these cars? http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif surely they will just be scrap now?

****SCOOP PURCHASE****

Choose from 500 SAAB 9-3 sport saloons.
All specs and colours, available in approx 2 weeks (as long as the sun shines)
These cars are brand new delivery nautical miles, and have been thoroughly cleaned inside and out.

Oh I can see it now... watch out for 9-3 bargains at dealers http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif

Leon - you may be right! They are trying to salvage what they can from the wreck. Bits of the cars are already surfacing - as shown on Channel5 news.

Looks like it wasn't the first time the ship's been in trouble at sea (well almost)


On 22 February at appr. 01.55 hrs LT the Norwegian carcarrier “Tricolor” (190 m, 49.792 DWT) grounded in the River Scheldt near buoy 66B, just below the “Nauw van Bath”. The carrier was loaded with a cargo of vehicles *[/b]From This Salvage Site (http://www.multraship.nl/salvage1.htm)

The insurers need to get what they can back... so there will be a lot of spares available for the 9-3 very soon me thinks!
if they can get what.... £6k back for each car, thats a whole load of money they've saved!

Ceefax tonight quotes insurers as saying "Cars are unsalvagable"

Just heard about this - sad loss of so many Saabs etc etc http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif

It'll be an interesting comparison, though, to see how the different marques fare at the bottom of the deep blue sea - someone should bring a few up in a couple of months time and see which has stood up the best

James

Just lucky it didn't go down anywhere near Cornwall. They'd have them out in no time and the whole of Penzance would be chokka with spanking new motors

Beemer owners aren't too pleased either:

BM3W thread (http://www.bm3w.co.uk/bbs/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=003390)

BMWM5 board thread (http://www.bmwm5.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=25626)

Someone on the BM 5 board has identified that bumper seen being retrieved from the depths as being from a M5 (front airdam).

Looks like after Southampton, the Tricolor was bound for Baltimore, Brunswick and Port Hueneme in North America.

Interesting to see views from a different perspective...

I can't find any Volvo boards, so no idea what they think!

I can't find any Volvo boards, so no idea what they think! *[/b]Does anyone get passionate about ovloVs or breezeblocks?

I found this ovloV Bulletin Board (http://www.swedishclassics.com/cgi-bin/swedish/wwwboard/messages/12872.html) and check the name of the topic poster any relation Kevin?

That link has a last post over a year ago.

Did you mean this one (http://www.swedishclassics.com/cgi-bin/swedish/wwwboard/question.htm) ? If so, from the style, it looks like that Scott Paterson may have other interests http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif

That board has that horrid format - couldn't see any mention of the cargo ship sinking, don't think they're bothered.

PS. John Mc is /John and my lovechild http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif What an aweful thought http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif

Apologies as I'm straying off the 9-3ss path here. http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif Is there anyone on the board awaiting delivery that's likely to have their car on board?

Saabnet are following the story, though they think the ship sank in the North Sea! http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Hope they're not running the salvage, might take them a while to find it

Saabnet North Sea Cargo Ship Sinks Thread (http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/bb/9-3/index.html?bID=44852)

Having said that I'll let them off - wasn't that far from the North Sea (off Ramsgate) http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38590000/gif/_38590019_kent_ramsgate_france_150.gif

Latest is that another ship has grounded itself on the Tricolor! It's stuck fast, and they're waiting for the high tide to float off!

There's more info on the original incident here (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,860824,00.html) and the second collision here (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,860912,00.html)

I'm surprised that the Saabs went down with the ship, being that they are fitted with, wait for it, .... anti-submarine seats

Even if they do get them out, the rain sensing wipers will be completely worn out

Thats a horible thought Kev. (thats the one relating to lovechildren - bit behind here)

Someone somewhere mentioned £3million as the figure for losses. Oh yes and I heard a report that they were hampered by thick fog and high winds, I thought the two were pretty much mutually exclusive http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Since they were destined for US should we not be checking for terrorism? Bin and done it again!

Oh those poor Saabs to be enclosed and sunk in the same ship as the Beamers as well - the humility. Time to look at Ebay me thinks for some bargains

Oh and yes - I do like Volvos - Specially the Burnished gold C70 I saw last week!!

Report said that they would have to drag the cars out first before they could right the ship http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif Because the cars have all fallen to one side (the bottom as it is now!).

If they do save any of the cars, the barnacles will stop the leather seats getting too slippery.

Is there any truth in Neobothers already advertising "starfish" fivespoke alloys for Saab?


They've got some bargains on other parts, 9-3SS interior, grey leather, bit soggy

Originally posted by r_renfield:
Is there any truth in Neobothers already advertising "starfish" fivespoke alloys for Saab?
* *

They've got some bargains on other parts, 9-3SS interior, grey leather, bit soggy * * [/b]Wouldn't surprise me - with Neo Bros, anything's possible http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

I wonder if eg Merc and Audi will benefit from this? Presumably some people will be so cheesed off at having to re-order their car that they'll go elsewhere.

James

Good news - regarding my 9-3ss Vector it was not at the bottom on the English Channel but arrived today at my dealer in advance of its collection this Wednesday.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts on its performance etc...

Nice one evo Look forward to hearing your thoughts and seeing the pics if you can get hold of a digital camera

Hey evo you lucky man I'm pleased for you and if you can take some pics I'd like to see them too,just don't take offence when I appear to be jealous on seeing them cause I won't be

News this morning is that BMW want their cars back to prevent a whole lot of valid VIN numbers getting into the hands of the salvagers and being sold on.

Yeah, steer clear of any "fishy" 9-3ss you may come across.

Originally posted by Jason (Mr Torque-Steer):
Yeah, steer clear of any "fishy" 9-3ss you may come across. * [/b]Yes there are plenty of "Sharks" out there so steer clear

Can't see this being such a bad thing for 'financially struggling' Saab. Surely this amounts to another 500 sales?

Or have I lost the plot?

Originally posted by jb:
Just lucky it didn't go down anywhere near Cornwall. *They'd have them out in no time and the whole of Penzance would be chokka with spanking new motors * * [/b]Why Penzance? Or do you mean the Isles of Scilly. They're renowned around here for their salvage abilities!

No offence intended.

Originally posted by Aero:
Or have I lost the plot? * [/b]Should have said "Or have I missed the boat?"

Originally posted by Aero:
Can't see this being such a bad thing for 'financially struggling' Saab. *Surely this amounts to another 500 sales?

Or have I lost the plot? * [/b]Depends how well-insured they were, I guess.

Surely they were well insured?

Big mistake otherwise.

From what I heard the shipping company were under-insured http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif don't know how this works? will Saab be able to claim off there own insurance? if they could afford the premium

What I'd like to know is why , after the collision, didn't all the air-bags activate, then surely the ship would just float back to the surface.

Hmmm, nice theory DeeVee, but I think the air-bags deflate a fraction of a second later. Not even long enough to maintain floatation for a recovery mission!

Sorry to be pedantic!

Do they have the same wiper motors & Heater distribution boxes? (See posts under old 9-3 by poor people from up north like me!)

Has anyone got any snorkel gear?
We are working in Guernsey and I can get a boat cheap!!

I see another big boat has got grounded on that ship http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif Maybe the jolt will send some spares up to the surface!

I can't believe how seemingly poor the navigation skills / technology appears to be on boats.

I assume the Saabs are still under water...? http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Aparently they're broadcasting the ships position every half hour by text and god know what else...

Only thing I've heard is that the weather has been too bad to attempt any salvage.

As at the 19th of Jan. 2003 is this boat still under water? http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif

Perhaps I could pick up some very un-used tyres for when mine need replacing? I assume that these will cetainly not be damaged (yet) by the water....