Transport Malta yesterday said it is investigating the grounding of a Maltese-registered vessel off the French coast.

Some fuel oil has been observed on the ocean surface after the MV TK Bremen, a 3,992-gross tonnage general cargo vessel built in 1982, ran aground.

In a statement, Transport Malta said it is in direct contact with the managers of the vessel to closely monitor the situation.

TK Bremen, which remains stranded on the beach, is reported to have been in ballast. A salvage operation was planned yesterday amid difficult weather conditions.

“The Marine Safety Investigation Unit within Transport Malta is coordinating its safety investigation directly with the French authorities, in line with the relevant legislation and international maritime conventions.

“A safety investigator has also been deployed to the area to work in close liaison with the French safety investigator and gather all the available information.”

The storm left nearly 400,000 households without electricity and wrought havoc on train traffic in Brittany and the Pays de la Loire region.