Displaying items by tag: INEOS Britannia

20th February 2024

INEOS Britannia Training Boat Catches Fire Off Barcelona

Britain’s challenger for the 37th America’s Cup suffered a setback during training off Barcelona last Friday (16 February) when an electrical fire broke out on one of its boats.

According to Marine Industry News, the crew onboard INEOS Britannia’s AC40 Athena leapt into action after smoke billowed from the forward hatch that contains a lithium battery.

The fire was quickly brought under control by pumping water into the hatch to submerge the battery, which was later safely removed by shore crew, and no injuries were reported.

Athena is one of two training boats, along with fellow AC40 one-design Sienna, being used by the team as it awaits the completion of the final fit-out for its AC75 race boat due in April.

“Fire onboard any boat is always an incredibly difficult situation to manage,” INEOS Britannia skipper and team principal Sir Ben Ainslie said. “I want to personally thank the team for their professionalism and the emergency services for their support.”

Marine Industry News has more on the story HERE.

Published in America's Cup

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Capsize and Battery Fire Test Mettle of America’s Cup Challenger INEOS Britannia

INEOS Britannia have suffered a setback in their America’s Cup preparations after their T6 test boat capsized twice and caught fire on the water in Mallorca on Wednesday afternoon (8 February).

According to Marine Industry News, the boat got loose with a leeward heel and went bow up, capsizing seconds later. But as the team attempted to right the vessel, it flipped to the other side and turned turtle in the water.

Seawater ingress flooding the boat’s lithium batteries then caused a fire on board, though this was swiftly dealt with.

“We’ve got the boat back in probably the best shape we could considering it went turtle and we’ll re-group and have a look at what the issues are and what caused it,” said skipper and team CEO Sir Ben Ainslie.

“The only positive was that we were about to go into an upgrade window so if this was going to happen, it’s not a bad time.”

The T6 prototype had only had new sails installed last month as part of the team’s winter testing and data-gathering regimen in Palma, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Published in America's Cup

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About the Loughs Agency

The Loughs Agency is a governmental body established under the 1998 Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland. The Agency's goal is to provide sustainable social, economic, and environmental benefits by effectively conserving, managing, promoting, and developing the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford areas.

The Agency's governing legislation confers several specific functions, including the promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes in respect of marine, fishery, and aquaculture matters. Moreover, the Agency is responsible for managing, conserving, protecting, improving, and developing the inland fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Additionally, the Agency has the task of developing and licensing aquaculture, as well as the development of marine tourism.

The Loughs Agency reports to the North South Ministerial Council and its government Sponsor Departments, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, and the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC) in Ireland. The Departments fund the Agency on an equal basis.

The Loughs Agency's focus on sustainable development is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, environment, and local communities in the Foyle and Carlingford areas. The Agency's efforts to conserve and enhance the region's marine resources, including fisheries and aquaculture, are expected to benefit local communities, promote tourism, and contribute to economic growth.

In conclusion, the Loughs Agency plays a vital role in promoting the sustainable social, economic, and environmental development of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Its work on marine conservation and development is crucial in ensuring the long-term viability of the region's natural resources and in promoting sustainable economic growth.