Salvage World Q4 2022

ISU President opens Salvage and Wreck Conference

ISU President Captain Nicholas Sloane gave the opening address at the annual Salvage and Wreck Conference in London which ISU supported. He outlined the current environment in which salvors are operating, noting the scale of the industry and its statistics.

Mr Sloane also described the current operational issues facing the industry including box ship fires which are much more common than is widely realised and the pollution threat from containers. New fuels – ammonia, LNG, hydrogen – are also a concern to salvors.

ISU secretary general, James Herbert, joined a panel considering the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda in shipping and salvage. He said that property insurers should value the marine salvors for the way in which, under the spotlight of public scrutiny, they help protect their reputations, enabling insurers to deliver their ESG commitments. Carbon reduction and climate change were critical, according to Mr Herbert, but it is in environmental protection and pollution prevention that the members of the ISU offer the most benefit regarding ESG.

ISU vice-President, John Witte, described the challenges in the refloating of the grounded box ship, EVER FORWARD, just off the navigation channel outside Baltimore.

He pointed out the difficulty in lightening boxes from such a large ship and their storage before being back loaded. And the importance of working with multiple authorities and managing public expectations – particularly the requirement to be “seen to be doing something” even if it is not necessary at that stage of the operation.

Daniel Richards, Associate Director of MSI shipping analysts, used data to look to the future and one trend of interest to salvors is the likelihood of more large containerships calling at smaller, less

sophisticated ports with the possibility of more incidents.

The risks posed by batteries both in cargo and for propulsion were addressed by a group of experts with some alarming case studies, images and video, shown by Adrian Scales of Brooks Bell and with Denis Kusters of React Emergency Response fire specialists and Smit’s Paul Van ‘t Hof.

Conference organisers hoped to engage a younger audience for this edition and a panel including members of the Lloyd’s Marine and Energy Under 35s group considered working practices in the industry and education and training and retention and making salvage an attractive sector to work in.

European Maritime Safety Agency Casualty Report

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published its statistics on marine casualty incidents involving ships flagged to an EU Member State and occurring within EU Member States’ territorial sea or internal waters.

Data from 2014 to 2020 have been re-

analysed and there was a small reduction in the number of marine casualties and incidents considering 27 Member States instead of 28, but trends and conclusions are very similar. 2021 appeared to have been a positive year considering the reduction and stabilisation of most of the

Photo: Action Press / Shutterstock

indicators, such as the number of occurrences, ships lost, fatalities or injuries. After traffic reduction in 2020, due to the COVID

ISU President Captain Nicholas Sloane

ISU vice-President John WitteSloane

EMSA Casualty Report continued

pandemic, traffic increased in 2021 and cruise ships and ferry activities started again, but pre-COVID levels were not reached. In 2021, 2,637 marine casualties and incidents were reported, representing a reduction of 166 marine casualties and incidents in comparison with the year 2019, after a 6-year period of stable numbers.

The total number of marine casualties and incidents reported in the period from 2014 to 2021 was 21,173. In 2021, the number of ships involved in marine casualties and incidents increased in comparison with 2020 and decreased in comparison to 2019 for all ship types excepting fishing vessels. For fishing vessels, the number

of ships involved in marine casualties and incidents in 2021 decreased in comparison to 2020 and increased in comparison to 2019. After a peak of 106 very serious casualties reported in 2018 and a total of 75 in 2019, the number of very serious marine casualties was 51 in 2020 and 52 in 2021, confirming the reduction in the trend.

From 2014 to 2021, the departure phase of a voyage was the lowest average with 8% of the ships involved in marine casualties and incidents, and the ‘en route’ phase was the one with a higher average, with an average of 44% of the ships involved in marine casualties and incidents.

Nippon Salvage provides services after collision

In August 2022, the XIN HAI 99 - 2,972 gross tonnes - collided with another ship off the coast of Kushimoto Port, Japan. She sustained a large fracture on her starboard side breaching the No 2 cargo hold and the stern deck was almost submerged.

This was obviously a dangerous situation and with the risk of sinking. Nippon Salvage dispatched a salvage tug HAYASHIO MARU and the multi-purpose work barge KAISHIN to the site upon receiving a request for bunker removal and patching work.

Salvage assets arrived at the site and commenced bunker removal with KAISHIN acting as “mother” vessel. After the completion of bunker removal, fabrication of a large steel patch (6m x 6m) was started on KAISHIN.

At the end of the month, XIN HAI 99 with salvage crew on board standing by for any emergency was towed 70NM to Wakayama Port as a place of refuge by the TUG MASUEI MARU NO. 43 and arrived safely.

A few days later installation of the steel patch started and was completed on 08 September and the same day, XIN HAI 99 was redelivered to her owner after dewatering the flooded cargo hold.

The casualty was carrying about 90 tonnes of bunkers at the time of accident, which Nippon Salvage said could have

From 2014 to 2021, there was a total of 563 lives lost in 376 marine casualties. The main event resulting in fatalities was collision, when it related to a ship, and slipping/falls when it related to a person.

From 2014 to 2021, 60% of accident events were due to human action and 68% of the contributing factors were related to human behaviour. Analysing both human action events and human behaviour contributing factors jointly, the human element relates to 81% of the investigated marine casualties and incidents. These trends are common for all ship types.

caused serious pollution along the coast which is a an important location for the aquaculture industry.

The position of the casualty was facing the open sea and easily affected by the weather and the time of year was the typhoon season. Nippon Salvage added: “The necessity of prompt response to prevent any environmental and property damage was obvious.”

New Executive Committee Member

Drew Shannon has been selected to join the ISU Executive Committee. Mr Shannon is well-known in the industry from his time with Svitzer Salvage and Ardent and as an SCR and is the owner and managing director of United Salvage in Australia, currently the only ISU member based in Australia.

United Salvage was re-established in 2020 after a management buyout from the previous owners of Ardent and is now a regional salvor for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. It has already undertaken several contracts including Lloyd’s form agreements, and using BIMCO wreck hire and wreck stage terms. United is a certified trainer for emergency towage crews and has been since 2005.

SCR Guidelines

ISU has been working with the International Group (IG) and the SCRs' representative, Nick Haslam, to revise the SCR Guidelines. The existing guidelines were an amalgamation of the previous sets of “SCR Digests” which had been produced occasionally since the introduction of SCOPIC in 1999. The revised Guidelines will give more clarity on the role of the SCR.

Work continues but it is hoped that they will be ready to be launched in time for the ISU Associate Members’ Day in March (see below).

SCOPIC Appendix A rate review

The triennial SCOPIC Appendix A rate review has been concluded and it was agreed that rates would be increased by 15.33% in line with the USA CPI-U index.

The new rate has been applied to the items on Appendix A and is published on the Lloyds’ Salvage Arbitration Branch website.

It has been agreed that during 2023 the approach to adjusting the rates will be re-considered given the volatility of the financial markets and current inflation situation.

ISU Associate Members’ Day 2023

The ISU will hold its Associate Members’ Day Conference on Wednesday 22 March 2023 at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall in central London – the same venue as all recent edition of the event. It will be followed on Thursday 23 March by the SCRs’ Forum. Pre-pandemic, this had been a biennial event jointly supported by ISU and the IG. The forum will be an

New guidelines on IMO STCW

The International Chamber of Shipping has published its new edition of Guidelines on the IMO STCW Convention.

It features infographics and visual aids showing mandatory parts of guidance and exactly what training is needed for seafarers. The updated and improved edition sets out the obligations for shipping companies and includes guidance on how to ensure compliance on board. ICS says the fourth edition will help readers:

• Comply with regulations

• Avoid lengthy delays at port for non-conformances

• Know exactly what training crews need to work on board

• Understand how the STCW works with other IMO and ILO regulations

• Be completely up-to-date on the latest regulations

opportunity for all SRCs to come together with both salvors and Club representatives to discuss current issues and to be briefed on the revised SCR Guidelines about the requirements of the role.

ISU addresses IMO

ISU Secretary General, James Herbert, and President, Captain Nicholas Sloane, had the opportunity in October to address the IMO Maritime Safety Committee in plenary (above). Delegates from some 170 IMO member states were attending the MSC and many stayed for the ISU presentation about the importance of the marine salvage industry and engaged in a lengthy question and answer session. Following the ISU presentaion, the UK SoSRep, Stephan Hennig, described his role and the UK's approach to marine salvage.

New ISU Full Member

Detek Deniz Teknoloji ve tic. ltd. co. Detek has 40 years’ experience of marine projects in Turkey and globally covering a wide range of salvage and wreck removal projects, marine pipeline issues and provides design and project implementation for clients in both the private and public sectors.

Postane Mah. Rauf Orbay Cad. Neseli St. No: Tuzla Istanbul, Turkiye

Tel: +90 216 494 08 28

Contact: M Meric Karasu mkarasu@detekoffshore.com

Tsavliris

Nicolas A Tsavliris, FICS, Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Greek Branch and Principal of Tsavliris Salvage Group hosted its 17th Annual Forum and led the panel of distinguished speakers. Tsavliris said the ICS annual Forum “provides an excellent opportunity to shipping leaders for brainstorming on critical matters”.

The ICS Greek Branch is the largest examination centre in the world and has trained more than 10,000 shipping professionals through its professional programmes since its establishment.

The relay began in Glasgow - host of COP26 - at the beginning of October. After 38 days, 18 countries and 7,767 kilometres, the world's longest non-stop relay came to an end in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt - host of COP27 - on 6 November.

The relay batton was signed by nearly 500,000 individuals and supported by more than 1,500 schools in over 100 countries. It carried messages from future leaders and was presented to delegates at COP27.

The Deputy Minister of Shipping Vasilios Demetriades and the Director General of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, Thomas Kazakos also participated in the race.

The relay was honored with the additional presence of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, Kostas Kadis, the Environment Commissioner, Clelia Vasileiou, the Deputy Mayor of Limassol.

New ISU Associate Members Deep, Hydrography & Geophysics

A survey company founded in 1999 and based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It searches and maps natural and manmade features on and in the seabed. The company has been active in the salvage and wreck removal business for close to 20 years.

Johan van Hasseltweg 39D, 1021KN, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Contact: Jurgen Beerens, Director Business Development & Strategy Email: info@deepbv.nl

Next Rental Maritime BV

Rental of maritime equipment

Bennebroekerdijk 218, 2142 LD CruquiusThe Netherlands

Contact: Linda de Groot CEO Tel: +31 06 10 28 25 31

Email: linda@nextrental.nl

New ISU Affiliate Member

The Admiralty Solicitors’ Group

The ASG was formed in 1972 to protect and promote high standards in the practice of English Maritime Law.

ASG member firms all have established reputations in maritime law and are committed to the continued development of England, and particularly London, as a maritime legal centre.

The Group meets regularly to discuss current issues that affect the efficient practice of English maritime law. The Group is represented on committees and working parties including the Commercial Court Users' Committee and the Lloyd’s Salvage Group and is consulted by other organisations on shipping issues and the development of maritime law.

Contact: Mark Lloyd 44 20 7667 9856 Mark.Lloyd@kennedyslaw.com

Bernicia Marine Consultants

L-R: Thanasis Martinos, MD, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Ltd., Nicholas Tsavliris, Chairman, ICS Greek Branch & Tsavliris Salvage Group, Ioannis Plakiotakis, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy-Hellenic Republic, George Prokopiou, Founder, Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd., Dynagas Ltd. and Sea Traders S.A., Natalia Margioli Komninou, MD, HMC/ICS Greek Branch, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe Leo Docherty

To mark the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association's 30th anniversary, its President, George Tsavliris, and CYMEPA friends and associates participated in the "Running Out of Time" relay in October.

ISAT Underwater Technologies

A company conducting marine operations and supporting salvage, subsea construction, ship maintenance, industrial diving, oil and gas projects

Maltepe Zümrütevler mah Şebboy sk. no 10: Istanbul, Türkiye

Contact: Hakan Aykanat Tel: +90532 343 52 73 Email: info@isat.com.tr

Captain John Owen of ISU Associate Bernicia Marine Consultants reports on The Society for Underwater Technology and Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland and the D’Arcy Thomson (ISU Associate Members)

Forum - 10th Anniversary Special of the Salvage, Decommissioning & Wreck Removal Workshop held in Glasgow in November.

"This is a big title and was developed around 'Navigating the Blue Economy through the Climate Emergency.'

"16 Papers were presented in four sessions during a very intensive day which touched upon the energy infrastructure and the need for better decision making around the lessons learnt from the early days of oil and gas which did not consider

Bernicia continued

decommissioning at end of life and that many of the structures would remain in situ as a marine reef system. This is being addressed in new offshore installations and in the renewables sector with greater focus on recycling and simpler decommissioning when that time comes.

"Much was said about the marine ecosystem and ISU Secretary General James Herbert provided an overview as

to the role played in the preservation of marine ecosystems through voluntary salvage and the benefits of LOF contracts in the marine environment. Scientists provided evidence on the value of biodiversity and questions were asked about the Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) Convention and how this sits with opening up the Arctic route of the North East Passage.

"A notable presentation from Will Black at

Smit operations around the Arabian Peninsula

Smit reports that it has been busy around the Arabian Peninsula with emergency response work in the last quarter of 2022.

Smit was contracted to assist a container vessel in the Red Sea for which it mobilised several tugs and a team for firefighting and environmental care services. In the Persian Gulf a fully laden, grounded bulk carrier was aided with STS cargo lightering and subsequent safe refloating services.

Additionally, Smit was requested by an oil and gas operator to assess and stabilise a floating production unit off West Africa.

After completing the assessment, Smit supported the development of an accelerated decommissioning plan with the company assigned to mooring disconnection, towage to a sheltered location and reconnection to a temporary mooring system.

Smit completed the installation of an eightleg mooring system with the assistance of Boskalis Marine Services, which was responsible for the environmental criteria and mooring analyses for the new system. Smit will continue to provide support into 2023 with caretaking while executing preparations for eventual disposal of the offshore unit.

Meanwhile in India, works are ongoing on two wreck removal projects offshore Mumbai which are being executed simultaneously.

Smit is working together on these projects with another Dutch marine contractor, Koole, and Smit’s local Indian alliance partner Vishwakarma. With a large spread

Equinor stressed that greater collaboration and shared thinking was necessary to improve the decommissioning process in an environmentally responsible manner."

Captain Owen and others suggest that salvors should re-consider the opportunities presented by the de-commissioning industry, given the need for diversification in their activities.

Day and night pictures of Smit Salvage undertaking ship-to-ship cargo transfer from a grounded bulker.

of marine assets (from Boskalis Marine Services, Koole, as well as chartered-in locally), specialised salvage equipment and a team of salvage experts, the wrecks are being cut into pieces and recovered

with grabs and placed onto barges for environmentally-friendly disposal on shore. These projects are also expected to run into the first part of 2023.

Boluda in diverse operations

In November the Blackford Dolphin platform docked at the Astican facilities in the port of Las Palmas (below) with the manoeuvre carried out by the Boluda Towage tugs VB TAMARAN, VB BANDAMA, VB BALEAR, VB MEDITERRANEO, supported by the VB ASTERIX, the VB OBELIX and the QUIJOTE I.

Elsewhere, Boluda Towage conducted the operation to remove a 4,800 tonne concrete pile from the old floating dock of Haropa Port at Le Havre, France. In what was described as a “delicate operation” Boluda Towage worked with the harbour master's office, pilotage, Eiffage Construction and ETPO.

The tugs VB OCTEVILLE, VB YPORT and VB GASCOGNE towed the 4,800 tonne pile to Osaka for further dismantling.

And in the Canaries, Boluda carried out

the towing manoeuvre of the X-30 wind turbine from the port of Las Palmas to the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (picture right).

Also in November, the heavy transport vessel XIN YOA HUA arrived at the port of Invergordon, Scotland, loaded with four large WTG jackets destined for the Neart Na Gaoithe (NNG) offshore windfarm. Each jacket weighs over 1,900 tonnes and is more tan 80m high.

Tugs STRATHDEE and STRATHDON of Boluda Towage (Caledonian) assisted XIN YOA HUA to its berthing place and later

Raul Negro y Cia lifts sunken tug boat

The out-of-service tug VENCEDOR sank in the port of Villa Constitucion, Santa Fe, in Argentina, causing considerable pollution and obstruction of the pier. It was refloated and removed for scrap in September by Raul Negro y Cia with the sheerleg crane HERCULES and sent to final disposal.

rotated the vessel through 180 degrees to enable further works to be carried out before assisting with her departure.

Boluda Towage (Caledonian) tug assisting heavy lift vessel XIN YOA HUA (Picture courtesy PSG Marine & Logistics Ltd)

Tsavliris roundup

In October, the bulker MADRID - dwt 30,900 tonnes and laden with 25,000 tonnes of wheat - grounded at km 342 in the Parana River, Argentina, during downriver navigation (picture below right). The vessel was en route from San Lorenzo, Argentina, to Liverpool, UK.

Tsavliris mobilised the tugs RANQUEL (BP 70 tonnes) and BRUTUS (BP 72 tonnes) and a salvage master to provide assistance.

The following day, the vessel was refloated successfully without lightening and was towed to Puerto Ingeniero Buitrago anchorage where VDR inspections were carried out according to the Port Authorities' requirements. Services were completed the next day and the tugs were released.

In November, the Ro-Ro ANTONIOS M - grt 493 tonnes - experienced main engine problems and was towed from Rio, Greece, to Piraeus Roads by Tsavliris’ tug HERMES (BP 41 tonnes, pictrure above right). After two days the convoy arrived safely at the destination and the operation was successfully completed.

On 13 November 2022, the VLCC OKEANOS - dwt 160,000 tonnes and laden with 135,800 tonnes of crude oil - was disabled due to a main engine problem, about 80 nautical miles off Dubai, UAE.

The next day, Tsavliris despatched the AHT BRITOIL 41 (BP 150 tonnes) from Dubai to the assistance of the casualty arriving a day later and towage commenced on 17 November.

The following day, the convoy arrived at Mina Rashid A anchorage, Dubai, and the tug provided standby services for a few days until the operation was successfully completed.

On 20 November 2022, the Container Vessel SC PHILLY - dwt 14,000 tonnespartly laden with containers, experienced main engine problems in the Gulf of Almeria, Spain.

Despite difficulty locating an “all weather” powerful tug, Tsavliris despatched the AHT KOLGA (BP 208 tonnes) on the same day.

On 21 November, the tug arrived at the casualty’s position and towage to Algeciras Roads, Spain, commenced in severe weather conditions, Force 9 and winds of 50 knots. On 23 November, the convoy arrived at the destination and the operation was successfully completed (picture below left).

Atlantic Towage and Marine operation

Atlantic Towage and Salvage’s vessel Ocean Challenge seen connecting up to a disabled container ship in a dramatic thunderstorm in the Irish sea.

Focus on Bangladesh - Prantik operations

The cellular container vessel HAIAN CITY sailed from Chittagong Port in April bound for Singapore laden with 1105 TEU. The vessel was in collision with a tanker at Kutubdia Anchorage, sustaining damage between cargo holds 4 and 5 on the port side. The hull was breached with damage extending to 8m by 10m (picture below).

The shipowners awarded the salvage job to Prantik and Chittagong Port Authority also approved the contractor. The vessel was carrying an estimated $100 million worth of export cargo.

The vessel was brought inside the Karnaphuli River channel escorted by five tugs. The vessel draft was 10.8 metres with 7 degree port side list. A vessel with such draft had not previously been allowed to enter Chittagong Port. Underwater inspection of the damage enabled Prantik to devise a two stage salvage plan approved by the owners, insurers, Class NKK and Port Authority.

The first step was to seal the breached hole on the port side hull with a temporary steel patch of 10m by 12m using 12mm plate with a 50mm rubber gasket seal.

The second stage followed after dewatering of the fuel tanks, bilge tanks and cargo holds and would see two steel structure boxes fitted in the severely

damaged cargo hold side plates. It took 40 salvage crew 45 days to make the vessel seaworthy.

The steel patch was fixed to the hull underwater by 104 toggle bolts with high precision for a positive sealing (picture below right).

Placement of the steel structure boxes required the containers to be removed from the cargo hold. The ingress of water inside the cargo hold caused the containers to become overweight beyond the safe working limit of the vessel’s crane and they had to be cut to remove cargo from within in order to lighten the weight.

Following tests and inspection by the class surveyor, the vessel was deemed seaworthy and the offloaded containers were re-loaded and the vessel sailed to Singapore for permanent repair.

Later in the year in November, Prantik also salvaged the Dumb Barge MR 3322 - length 100m, breadth 27m and 4200 gross tonnes - grounded at St Martin’s Island. The small island in the north eastern part of the Bay of Bengal forms the southernmost part of Bangladesh.

The barge was being towed empty from Chittagong to Malaysia by tug GLORY 3 when cyclonic storm “Sitrang” caused the towing rope to break and the strong gale winds pushed the barge onto the lee shore and high onto a small adjoining island to St Martin’s which is separated at high tide.

Prantik took on the operation on a “no cure no pay” basis and necessary permissions and approvals were granted on the basis of no environmental damage, no disturbance to the underwater ecosystem or to the local inhabitants.

ISU's member in Bangladesh, Prantik Bengal Salvage and Diving, has been in action in two recent services in its home country.

The island has several ecosystems, including coral-rich areas, mangroves, lagoons and rocky areas.

Prantik said: “The situation was quite critical as it is an ecological hotspot. Being a national asset and the only coral island, the priority was to ensure protection of the flora and fauna of the island.

"The barge had finally settled in the middle of the island and if unattended, it would cause severe ecological catastrophe to the island.”

Prantik’s team mobilised to the site with two salvage barges and two tugs. Prantik Salvage’s managing director, Golam Sarwar, an experienced Salvage Master, engineered a solution using air balloons in a first for Bangladesh.

23 air balloons (176 KN/metre load bearing capacity, each 18m length, and 1.5m diameter) and a team of 60 skilled workers were engaged to lift, shift and refloat the barge.

When off the ground, one salvage barge pulled the stranded barge from the aft while the other, forward, held her to stop her from gaining any momentum while being pulled.

The barge was rotated and laterally shifted by adjusting the air balloons until the heading was aligned to the marked channel for safe launching and re-floatation of the barge which was successfully achieved with minimal to zero damage to the environment.

Top: Barge high and dry on St Martin's Island

Middle: Barge manoeuvred on air bags and, above, successfully refloated.

IN TE RN AT IONAL SALVAGE UN ION

ISU, Beaufort House, 15 St Botolph Street London EC3A 7BB Email: ISU@marine-salvage.com

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