The UK’s Coastguard coordinated the response to a major collision incident between vessels SOLONG, a feeder container ship, and product tanker STENA IMMACULATE, laden with a partial cargo of aviation fuel, off the UK coast east of Hull.
Fires were reported on both vessels, two HM Coastguard helicopters, a coastguard fixed wing aircraft and lifeboats were deployed along with several nearby vessels with firefighting capabilities.
36 crew members were taken safely to shore but one crew member of the SOLONG lost their life. The two vessels remained on fire for a considerable time. ISU members arrived rapidly on scene and agreed contracts for two separate operations. UK SoSRep and deputy SoSRep were both involved managing the two seperate casualties.
The STENA IMMACULATE remained anchored the incident site while salvors carried out assessment, stabilisation and environmental protection activities.
The salvors also worked to restore vital equipment, bringing it back to working
order and preparing for the next crucial phase - offloading the cargo. A carefully planned Ship-to-Ship (STS) operation saw part of the tanker's cargo successfully pumped into a receiving vessel. The transfer of the remaining cargo is expected to finish in the next period.
Once the fire was put out on SOLONG she was towed safely to Aberdeen for further assessment and is now berthed at the Scottish port.
Top: Burning container ship SOLONG.
Below: STENA IMMACULATE showing substantial fire damage and ruptured side. Pictures courtesy: UK MCA.
2.4 million tonnes of potential pollutants in ISU members' 2024 services
Members of the ISU provided 162 services to vessels carrying 2.4 million tonnes of potentially polluting cargo and fuel during operations in 2024.
It again demonstrates the vital role of professional salvors in protecting the marine environment. The data come from the ISU’s Annual Pollution Prevention Survey for operations in 2024.
President of the ISU, John Witte, said: “Sustaining a viable professional salvage industry ready to respond to all kinds of incidents around the world is essential and that is recognised by insurers and
owners but it needs to be properly funded. This survey clearly demonstrates that the threat is real and the interventions of our members are a vital contribution to environmental protection and to the protection of our clients’ reputations.”
There were 162 services in 2024 compared with 173 the previous year and that is in line with the downward trend of the ISU general industry statistics.
But at the same time the potential impact of cases is getting larger, particularly in containership cases and also because of the greatly increased amount of bunkers
carried by the largest ships.
Each year there can be significant variations in the quantities of pollutants in each category. That is largely due to the major impact on the numbers of, for example, cases involving large crude carriers.
The number of containers in 2024 is notably higher than last year and, after bulk cargo, remains the most significant category with ISU members providing services to vessels carrying 41,000 TEU amounting to some 615,000 tonnes of cargo. It compares with 400,000 tonnes
2024 ISU pollution prevention survey results
of crude oil. It is well established that containers carrying a great variety of harmful and dangerous goods including plastic pellets (nurdles) represent one of the biggest threats to the marine environment.
Cargoes of refined oil products increased again in 2024 but chemical cargoes dropped significantly.
Dirty and hazardous bulk cargoes in 2024 were up at 923,000 tonnes. A number of the services in the survey did not record the quantity of bunkers or the cargo type meaning the reported numbers likely represent a more modest total than the reality.
The 162 services in 2024 included 34 wreck removal/marine services contracts; 15 Lloyd’s Open Forms; 24 towage contracts; 8 Japanese Forms; 10 Lump Sum, 6 Day Rate contracts; 42 other contracts (including commercial terms and common law salvage) and 26 Turkish Forms.
ISU is transparent in noting that not all the potential pollutants were at immediate risk of going into the sea.
Some cases will have had limited danger, but others will have carried a real risk of causing substantial environmental damage.
John Witte added: “In an era of “zero tolerance” of any pollution, even the smaller cases represent a significant concern. And many of the individual cases recorded could have caused an environmental disaster if our members had not been available to intervene.”
The survey was first conducted by ISU in 1994 and the methodology was updated in 2014 to include a wider range of potential pollutants including containers and hazardous and dirty bulk cargoes.
In the period 1994 to end-2024, ISU members have provided services to
casualty vessels carrying 45,794,145 tonnes of potential pollutants, an average of 1.5 million tonnes per year.
923,433 614,610 92,659 2,397,045
All pollutant figures in tonnes. *Nominal 15 tonnes per TEU.
Photo: Action Press / Shutterstock
ISU Associate Members' Day and SCR Forum 2024
Nearly 200 delegates attended the ISU Associate Members' Day conference in London in March which was combined with the biennial SCR Forum which was jointly organised and promoted by ISU and the International Group of P&I Clubs.
ISU President John Witte introduced a packed programme and thanked the delegates for attending and said: “We value your associated membership of the ISU which tries hard to maintain constructive relationships with its stakeholders and members and we hope it continues to be worthwhile to be an ISU associate member.
"We know that our associates give excellent professional support to the salvage industry often making essential contributions during specific operations.”
IMO director of maritime safety, Hiro Yamada gave the keynote speech and reminded delegates of the important work of IMO that links to emergency response.
Elsewhere on the programme, emergency response in the context of conflict and war as well as other challenges like the threat of piracy was addressed by Stephen Askins, Partner at Tatham and Co, and he was followed by Quentin Brooksbank of McGill and Partners who discussed insurance issues for responders in challenging environments.
Jason Bennett, marine director at ABL, gave a presentation about emergency response in the context of the increased navigational challenge presented by the growth of offshore wind installations. And Intermanager Secretary General,
Kuba Szymanksi, gave a ship manager’s perspective on casualty management and encouraged closer working between salvors and ship managers.
The programme included a case study from Resolve Marine’s Matthew Bierwagen about a complicated wreck removal in Chile that required substantial modifications to its own barge in order to haul the wrecked fish farm support boat onto the deck.
UK SoSRep Stephan Hennig described the case of the MV RUBY and how social media and speculation made handling the casualty particularly difficult not least because of the nature of its cargo which could be portrayed as dangerous and the fact that the vessel had loaded in Russia even though its business was entirely legitimate.
The SCR Forum was introduced by Ben Harris, the Chair of the IG’s salvage committee, and included observations
from SCRs Simon Burnay of Waves Group and Adrian Scales of Brookes Bell about their experiences of undertaking the role and former leader of the SCR cadre, Captain Keith Hart, reminded people how the role had been conceived and implemented in its early days 25 years ago.
New Lloyd's salvage arbitrator, Michael Davey KC, moderated a panel including Ros Blazejczyk of Solis Marine, Peter Robinson from Resolve Marine, Paul Cunningham from Everest Group and Ed Wollaston of Skuld. One of the key topics the panel debated was dealing with disagreements on site and the issue of whether enough dissenting reports were issued and how that was managed between the SCR and the salvage master.
The conference was followed by a reception which provided excellent networking opportunities.
Above left: IMO director of maritime safety, Hiro Yamada. Above right (L-R) Ed Wollaston, Skuld; Paul Cunningham Everest Group; Ros Blazejczyk, Solis Marine; Peter Robinson, Resolve Marine.
ISU AGM 2025
All ISU full members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting this year it will be in in Cape Town, South Africa, kindly hosted by ISU member, AMSOL. ISU and industry business will be conducted and current issues discussed but, in the downtime, there will be excellent networking opportunities with friends and colleagues from across the industry
The outline programme is:
Wednesday 01 October (Daytime) Executive Committee Meeting (EXCO members only) and local visits for non-executive members and partners. (Evening) Welcome Reception. Thursday 02 October (Daytime) ISU AGM and local visits for partners. (Evening) Gala Dinner. Friday 03 October (Daytime) golf and local visits and farewell lunch.
The venue for the AGM is the recently refurbished Radisson Blu Collection Hotel, Waterfront, Cape Town, and ISU full members may book using the following link
ISU AGM hosted by AMSOL
We understand that there will be high demand for rooms as the African Energy Week conference is being held in Cape Town at the same time so we urge you to book as soon as possible.
ISU Secretary General James Herbert said: “We hope there will be representation from ISU members all over the world to demonstrate our international presence and I look forward to seeing you in Cape Town.”
ISU Annual Dinner 2025
ISU held its Annual Dinner in late March at the historic Trinity House in London.
The event is an opportunity for senior leaders of the salvage industry to engage with their counterparts from marine law, property and liability insurance and consultants as well as other senior figures from the shipping industry.
John Witte welcomed the guests and reminded them of the importance of the salvage industry and the ISU members and said: “We are a small but influential organisation and without the commitment of our Exco and Salvage Sub Committee members to work on behalf of the whole industry ISU would not function.
“Turing to the importance of the industry, it is never difficult to make the case for the professional salvors. Tomorrow we
will publish our annual pollution prevention statistics and they will certainly provide the evidence of the environmental benefits that we deliver to owners and insurers and wider society.
“There is generally less work for salvors these days but in most years there is a major incident that gets much media attention and which is professionally dealt with by ISU members. Last year it was the Dali, this year, the recent collision in the North Sea.
“And each time it there is a very public incident, it should remind us all not to take a professional emergency response capability for granted. Together, the people in this room are the ones who have the power to ensure that our industry is sustainable and we must all work together to do that and recognise the value preserved and the damage prevented by our services.”
Newfoundland boxship grounding
The containership MSC BALTIC III carrying some 470 containers grounded on the Newfoundland coast in a strong winter storm. A helicopter from the Canadian SAR team was able to rescue the 20 crew despite the severe conditions. The incident led to concerns about possible pollution.
Difficult conditions have hampered operations but the Canadian Coast guard reported that after conditions settled, salvors were able to bring a barge alongside and start to remove the 1600 tonnes of fuel oil including heating and pumping to large portable tanks.
The Canadian Coast Guard said it is maintaining oversight of the operations to ensure a “reasonable and appropriate
response as there is still an on-going risk that pollution could enter the marine environment.”
Picture: Canadian Coast Guard
Resolve Marine news roundup
In August 2024, a fire broke out on motor yacht ATINA while off Olbia, Sardinia. During the course of firefighting activities, the ATINA began to develop a list to the starboard side and ultimately capsized and sank at anchorage that evening. Following the fuel removal operations, Resolve was awarded the contract for removal the wreck.
Resolve, working together with Dutch Offshore, mobilised the CONQUEST MB1 barge which was fitted with a 1400 tonne main crane and two auxiliary cranes on its deck. Resolve’s crew successfully worked to parbuckle the casualty, lifted her out of the water while dewatering with pumps, and landed the casualty on the deck of the CONQUEST MB1 to be transported to a scrapping facility.
Towards the end of 2024, Resolve was mobilised by a leading Navy to assist a warship which had capsized in the Asia region. Initial efforts included mobilising a salvage and dive team from Resolve’s local response depot to assist with stabilisation efforts.
Subsequently, a tender was released to right and recover the vessel which Resolve was awarded. The solution called for a parbuckling operation with 800 tonnes of pull using chain pullers and Stevpris anchors. The refloat was accomplished with chain puller barges stabilising the casualty while subtantial portable pumps dewatered the vessel.
Seperately, the the Canadian Coast Guard tasked Resolve with attending the GENERAL ZELINSKI, a US army transport ship, which sank in 1946 in British Columbia. Resolve installed new hot tap valves, pumped out the remaining HFO, and placed pollution collection domes in six locations as designated by the coast guard.
Resolve’s teams remained busy in other regions and also responded to a loaded bulk carrier which grounded in the US Great Lakes as well as dealing with an oil spill in Singaporean waters.
Elsewhere Resolve, and ISU associate member Prantik Bengal Salvage & Diving, successfully salvaged the bulk carrier BOSPHORUS M after a serious collision that left the vessel critically unstable while laden with 53,165 tonnes of wheat.The impact resulted in extensive structural damage including a 4 metre rupture below
the waterline with extensive flooding that led to the loss of nearly half of the cargo. A dramatic excess of draft and list to starboard meant a risk of sinking.
Prantik was initially engaged for emergency response and after an underwater inspection and damage assessment Resolve Marine joined as the primary contractor, deploying a salvage team with salvage master supported by a naval architect, experienced salvors, and Prantik’s team of naval architects, divers, fabrication experts and tugs BARSHAN, MEGH, PRANTA, and the salvage barge DB PRANTIK.
To reduce the vessel’s draft and restore buoyancy, 9,000 tonnes of damaged wheat were redistributed and discharged. Prolonged exposure to seawater led to hydrogen sulfide emissions from the decomposing wheat cargo and a marine
chemist was engaged to monitor gas levels, and a controlled ventilation system was implemented.
Initial temporary patching did not withstand a period of bad weather and a large permanent doubler plate was approved and installed over the damaged area.
Additional ruptures were patched by divers and one of the vessel’s anchors was found entangled with a displaced anchor and chain. Divers cleared the obstruction and retrieved the lost anchor and chain.
Over 36 days, a team of salvage masters, naval architects, divers, and 34 salvage crew members, supported by six vessels, executed what Prantik described as “one of the most technically demanding salvage operations in recent history.”
ISU Members', Associates’ and Affiliates' News
Tsavliris
The Propeller Club, Piraeus, held its annual New Year ceremony in January 2025, with 400 guests. During the event, Nicolas Tsavliris was recognised for his "invaluable contribution" as past President of the Propeller Club (below). And in February 2025 he also received the Lifetime Achievement award for services to the Greek Tugowners’ Association and the salvage/towage industry in general.
Capital Link hosted the 8th Annual Cyprus Shipping Forum in February 2025 in Limassol, Cyprus and George Tsavliris was the Conference Chairman for the 8th consecutive year.
At Bayes University (formerly City University) in London, Andreas Tsavliris gave his annual lecture for the 40th consecutive year to the Shipping, Trade and Finance master's degree students. Professor Costas Grammenos, on behalf of the University, thanked Mr Tsavliris for his commitment and his contribution to the students. Tsavliris Group also supported the event to award scholarships to the University of Piraeus’ top students (undergraduate and postgraduate) of the departments of Finance and Shipping.
Resolve Marine
In October 2024, Resolve Marine celebrated its 40th anniversary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and hosted an industry event, with more than 60 clients and business partners, including representatives from marine service providers, cruise lines, yachting companies, the US Coast Guard, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and others across the maritime field.
The guests toured Resolve Marine’s 40,000-square-foot warehouses, which house mobile salvage, emergency response and diving equipment and Resolve Academy’s firefighting training vessel. The event provided a “unique
opportunity to gain insight into Resolve Marine’s wide-ranging capabilities.”
Resolve has also announced several promotions and appointments: Nishant Choudhary was appointed General Manager, Resolve India and is responsible for commercial operations, emergency response, projects and regulatory compliance. He brings over 20 years of industry experience and leads a team of 15.
Matthew Bierwagen was promoted to Director, Bids and Estimating. In this role he oversees the development and submission of bids and proposals worldwide.
Samuel Adams was promoted to Director of Projects and is responsible for the company’s portfolio of global wreck removal and marine services projects, succeeding Todd Schauer, a 25-year veteran with the company, who retired at the end of 2024 but who will continue working for Resolve Marine in an advisory role.
Other appointments included Jeffrey Weaver, who joined Resolve Marine as Director, HSEQ and who brings nearly 20 years of HSEQ experience from onshore and offshore industries.
Pacific Towing
Four young Solomon Islanders (below) have received maritime cadetship scholarships from ISU member Pacific Towing (PacTow), a PNG-based marine services company. After completing their Officer of the Watch training, they will begin work at PacTow’s Honiara tug base.
The company plans to offer more scholarships to Solomon Islanders to strengthen its regional workforce and nurture future seafaring professionals, with a focus on including more women.
PacTow, founded in PNG in 1977, has run cadetship programs for over 20 years. Its Women in Maritime programme, launched in 2018 with support from the Australian Government, Consort Express Lines,
and Swire Shipping, is dedicated to fasttracking female maritime careers. Both programmes are for four years.
The Solomon Islander cadets will undergo eight months of preparatory training and work in Honiara before officially starting their cadetships in January 2026.
They will spend a year studying at Fiji’s Pacific Centre for Maritime Studies (PCMS), followed by two years of seatime training. This will include stints with Consort Express Lines, Swire Shipping, and PacTow’s tug fleet, gaining experience in operations ranging from berthing to emergency response.
After completing sea-time, the cadets will return to PCMS for final studies and exams. On graduation as Officers of the Watch, they’ll be employed full-time by PacTow, with qualifications enabling them to work across maritime industries throughout Melanesia and beyond.
PacTow General Manager Gerard Kasnari said: “As a good corporate citizen, and as a well-established and successful business that has prospered from our operations in the region, it is important for PacTow to ‘give back’.”
Operating in the Solomon Islands since 2012, PacTow offers services like harbour towage, salvage, commercial diving, and emergency response. With over 250 staff and a 20-vessel fleet, it is the largest marine services provider in Melanesia and a subsidiary of Steamships Limited.
InterManager
InterManager, the global trade association for the ship management sector, has appointed Sebastian von Hardenberg as its new President. The decision was made during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in London.
Mr Von Hardenberg, who currently serves as CEO of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), was elected by InterManager’s Executive Committee.
A veteran of the shipping industry and former Vice President of the association, he has played a key role in representing ship managers in policy discussions with the European Union, particularly regarding upcoming regulations such as the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) and FuelEU Maritime.
After this election Mr von Hardenberg emphasised the importance of collaboration and innovation in navigating
ISU Members', Associates’ and Affiliates' News
sector-wide challenges and said: “InterManager is shaping the future of the ship management sector. We firmly believe that we are stronger and better together.”
A law graduate, Mr von Hardenberg joined the Schulte Group in 2005 and served as CFO of BSM before being appointed CEO earlier this year.
Raal Harris, Chief Creative Officer at Ocean Technologies Group and One Ocean, was elected as Vice President. A decade-long member of the Executive Committee, Harris brings continuity and experience to the leadership team.
The meeting also marked the retirement of Ajay Tripathi of MMS Singapore from his role as Treasurer after 17 years of service. He was thanked by the Committee for his long-standing contribution.
Southern Ropes
New ISU Associate Member, Southern Ropes has highlighted its' work helping to right the toppled ship EUROPA which was built in 1911 to serve as a lightship on the river Elbe but was brought to the Netherlands in 1986 to be rebuilt as a barque.
From 1994 she had been fully restored and was being used as an official sail training vessel. The EUROPA rolled over during transportation for launch onto the synchro lift at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Resolve Marine under the leadership of past ISU President, Captain Nick Sloane, approached Southern Ropes to supply lifting slings to assist in the innovative plan to right the vessel.
The American Salvage Association
American Salvage Association (ASA) announced the successful completion of a three-day Marine Salvage Response Course conducted in collaboration with the US Coast Guard (USCG) at its Base Alameda.
The seminar provided USCG members with an in-depth overview of key topics and challenges faced when responding to marine casualties.
The 2025 course marks the 22nd anniversary of ASA’s partnership with the
IUMI
The IUMI website has been updated, reorganised and is now live. Taking the lead from the refreshed 150th anniversary logo, IUMI has colour-coded the organisation of its information and presented it in a much more ordered and accessible way. The new site now makes good use of imagery to display information in a way that is both interesting and easy to navigate.
Visitors to the new site will find sections
on IUMI's core activities including policy, education, statistics and events. Alongside this, there is a news section and an area giving in-depth information about the organisation itself. Favourite items are still available so visitors can easily find IUMI's latest podcasts, webinars, training courses and events –as well as updates on the various policy issues the association is actively engaged with. IUMI statistics are also available to view and download.
Visit the site at www.iumi.com
Taking into account the purpose of the rope products required to cradle and lift the vessel using a gantry crane, the decision was made to construct 56mm lifting slings with an HMPE core with Southern Ropes’ specialised polyurethane coating to enhance abrasion resistance and splicability with an additional blend of Polyester and HMPE protective covers and 32mm super 12 HMPE spliced in special whoopie configuration slings.
Southern Ropes said HMPE has the advantage of “possessing exceptional strength to weight ratio and is very easy to splice, making it an idea choice for this application”. The vessel was successfully lifted two months after the incident.
USCG in delivering specialised training to enhance maritime emergency response capabilities.
The course included discussions on:
• the business of salvage
• salvage marine firefighting regulations
• safety measures in commercial diving operations
• heavy lift, rigging and emergency towing techniques
Jeremiah Winston, chair of ASA’s Training Committee, said: “This course underscores the longstanding collaboration between the American Salvage Association and the US Coast Guard in strengthening maritime emergency response capabilities.
By providing hands-on training and expert insights, we ensure that responders are well-prepared to handle complex salvage operations safely and efficiently. We are proud to continue this critical partnership and advance the industry’s best practices."
Smit operational news
On Tuesday, 18 February, the crew of one of Boskalis’ trailing suction hopper dredgers, CAUSEWAY picked up a radio message indicating a fire on board a RoRo carrier in the North Sea.
The captain immediately called the 24/7 emergency number of his Smit Salvage colleagues to report this.
A helicopter from the UK Coast Guard and rescue boats were already en route to the location, while the crew of the CAUSEWAY continued to monitor the situation at the request of their salvage colleagues.
When the situation seemed to be under control, the shipowner contracted Smit Salvage to tow the vessel to their terminal in Antwerp.
Later in the afternoon, another fire broke out on an upper deck. The ship’s crew was unable to control it, and Smit Salvage was asked to assist with firefighting.
Before the crew was evacuated from the RoRo by the UK authorities, they managed to establish a tow connection with a tugboat from partner and fellow ISU member, Multraship, after many desperate attempts. This was important due to the narrow and busy waterways and the proximity of wind farms.
Later that evening, the AHTS KAMARA from Boskalis departed with a SMIT salvage team, including fire fighter and a marine chemist, from their emergency response centre in Vlaardingen arriving at the vessel at dawn.
Due to worsening weather conditions, a heavier tugboat was necessary to keep the casualty under control, leading to the mobilisation of the in-house-provided AHTS BEAR.
After two days of boundary cooling and monitoring temperatures, the salvage team was able to board. The fire on the car decks was almost under control, but there was still firefighting to be done in the vessel's accommodation.
The AHTS KAMARA was relieved by another vessel with sufficient firefighting capacity and accommodation releasing KAMARA for its original project. Additionally, an extra five-member team was sent to the location.
After the necessary inspections and
measurements confirmed that the situation was under control, the vessel was given permission by the authorities to be towed to Antwerp with assistance of partner Multraship.
After the casualty was berthed a Smit salvage team provided caretaking duties to safely monitor the vessel until operations commenced to unload the cargo.
Elsewhere on the night of March 22nd to 23rd, a geophysical survey vessel encountered an unexpected grounding on the island of Elba in Italy.
The twin-hull catamaran sustained a breach in its portside floater, causing it to remain aground. In response, Smit Salvage, in collaboration with local partner Fratelli Neri, swiftly signed an LOF agreement with the vessel's owners to manage the situation.
A diving inspection was promptly conducted to assess the damage, and as a precautionary measure, the bunkers were removed first to safeguard the pristine marine environment. With the vessel stabilised, buoyancy aids were installed to facilitate the refloating process.
As bad weather loomed, Smit said its salvage team “acted with urgency and expertise” to successfully refloat the vessel and it was towed it to a nearby marina where it was safely lifted ashore for a detailed damage assessment.
Smit said: “This operation highlights the exceptional skill and dedication of the Smit Salvage team and Fratelli Neri, whose quick and efficient response ensured the protection of the environment and the successful recovery of the vessel.”
Five Oceans Salvage - bulker operations
The bulk carrier MANASOTA - 171,000 dwt and laden with 168,000 tonnes of bauxite was on passage from West Africa to China and suffered an engine room explosion about 300nm northeast of Mauritius on 15th January, resulting in an engine room fire and the loss of life of one of the crew.
The efforts by the crew to put out the fire using the CO2 system of the vessel were not successful and her owners signed a LOF with Five Oceans Salvage. A Salvage Master together with marine firefighters were mobilised from Europe and reached the casualty on the 18th of January, using a small fishing boat from Port Louis, Mauritius.
The fire was extinguished and in the course of the following days the salvage team assisted the crew to safely enter the engine room for various works and damage assessments as well as to restore power in the accommodation block using the emergency generator of the vessel.
The salvors engaged the 200 tonne bollard pull tug POSH EAGLE from Sri Lanka and the casualty was towed to Indonesia. The convoy was joined by the 73 tonne bollard pull tug POSH HARDY in the Malacca Straits to assist the passage through the narrow and congested
Singapore approaches.
During the 26 day tow, the salvors made arrangements for additional generators to be placed onboard MANASOTA to run auxiliary machinery to restore power and supplied provisions for the crew and stores and spares and the vessel safely reached Nipah Anchorage in Indonesia on 21st February and the services under the LOF were terminated.
In March, Five Oceans Salvage were engaged under a LOF to assist the bulk carrier ERRIKOS - 56,000 tonnes dwt - that was immobilised in bad weather conditions 40 miles off the northern coast of Norway, following total blackout onboard. The vessel was fully laden with fertilizer enroute from Russia to Brazil.
The salvors mobilised the only available tug in the region, the 62 tonne bollard pull BORG PARAT from Tromso and she reached the casualty the following day, made a connection and started towing the casualty to shelter in Norway. The tow was at very slow speed because the rudder of the casualty was stuck at hard to port and the Norwegian authorities assisted with their ETV KV JARL and the two tugs brought the casualty to the safe anchorage of Vannvag.
The salvors assisted in finding and
Donjon-SMIT OPA 90 response
A recent incident involving the MV GRANDE CONGO, a combination RoRo and container vessel highlighted the operational role of the OPA 90 and its Salvage and Marine Firefighting regulations, according to Donjon Marine.
On February 17, 2025, the vessel encountered severe weather while en route from Valencia to Baltimore, resulting in cargo shifting and a fire on Deck 3. The onboard CO2 system extinguished the flames, but the incident led the US Coast Guard (USCG) to issue a Captain of the Port (COTP) order, directing the ship to Newport News Marine Terminal for inspection and repairs.
As part of the vessel owner’s OPA 90 compliance, Donjon-SMIT was the designated SMFF provider. The company mobilised a salvage and response team ahead of the ship’s arrival on February 24. Coordination efforts involved multiple
parties, including representatives from Grimaldi Lines, Newport News Fire Department, the USCG, class surveyors, and pollution response teams.
Damage assessments revealed that the fire had compromised several systems, including the stern ramp, watertight doors, and portions of the main fire system. A discharge operation was subsequently carried out to remove 209 units of cargo, including a NASA satellite undercarriage.
Pollution prevention measures were incorporated into all stages of the operation, based on a cleaning plan approved by the USCG and developed in collaboration with Gallagher Marine Services.
Temporary repairs included installing structural reinforcements and addressing damaged tank vent lines. The repairs allowed the ship to receive clearance from both class and the USCG.
AMSOL's tug SIYANDA supporting rig towing operations after the connection had been lost.
placing onboard the casualty portable diesel generators to restore power for the crew to effect repairs and restore the vessel’s own power and propulsion. The tug BORG PARAT remained standing by throughout the repairs, as required by the authorities. Repairs were successfully completed and the casualty was inspected and passed by the authorities and Class and the LOF was terminated, BORG PARAT released and ERRIKOS departed from Vannvag to resume her voyage to Brazil.
By March 13, all assigned work was completed to the vessel master’s satisfaction, and the GRANDE CONGO resumed its voyage the following day.
A Donjon spokesman said: “The incident underscores how the SMFF framework under OPA 90 facilitates early intervention, potentially limiting environmental impact and operational delays. While the damage was contained, the response serves as a case study in the importance of prearranged salvage readiness in maritime operations.”
Aras Salvage refloats sunken container ship
In December 2024 Aras Salvage responded to an urgent distress call from port operators in Turkey following the sinking of a container vessel during loading operations.
The vessel suffered loss of stability, causing a severe list to port side, ultimately leading to its sinking at the pier. Fortunately, the entire crew safely disembarked without injury.
Aras Salvage said its expert salvage and diving teams were immediately deployed to conduct a comprehensive underwater survey. The assessment aimed to establish a reliable and efficient salvage plan, ensuring a structured and safe refloating.
To execute the operation, a 90 tonne bollard pull Anchor Handling Tug ARAS SALVOR and a 700 tonne floating crane MAVİ VATAN-1 were mobilised. The team worked in close coordination with port operators and relevant authorities to navigate the significant commercial and public pressure surrounding the incident.
Aras said that one of the most pressing concerns was that not only had the vessel been abandoned by its crew, but also by its owners, managers, and even insurers.
This unusual situation led to a review and update of the reputable insurers list allowed to operate within Turkish territorial waters. Given this added layer of complexity, Aras Salvage said it remained “acutely aware” of the operational, commercial, and environmental pressures faced by the port operators.
Aras’ Naval Architect and Salvage Master worked on-site to develop and implement a meticulous salvage plan with multiple contingency scenarios to ensure swift and effective execution without unnecessary delays.
Key aspects of the salvage plan included:
Removal of 500 containers with the Aras team working in close cooperation with port operator-assigned teams.
Bunker removal considerations: although bunker removal was a primary concern, it was temporarily postponed, with additional safety measures put in place to prevent environmental damage during the operation.
Re-floating strategy: the vessel was successfully re-floated through a combination of:
• Sealing all air inlets, hatch covers, and accommodation spaces to enhance buoyancy.
• Removing superstructure weight to lighten the vessel.
• Supporting the aft section using the 700T floating crane, ensuring controlled lifting and stabilisation.
Upon completion of the re-floating, a thorough assessment was conducted to confirm that the vessel was stable and seaworthy for onward transit. The vessel was then safely delivered to the relevant authorities for further handling at a designated port of refuge.
Aras noted that all operations present critical lessons for all parties involved and that this incident was “yet another reminder of the importance of having a capable and experienced salvor at the ready.
"When a crisis emerges, professional salvors must act swiftly, taking initiative to protect lives, assets, and the environment while ensuring commercial continuity for port operations."
Aras Salvage added, “we take pride in our ability to deliver rapid, effective, and responsible salvage solutions - because when disaster strikes, the right team can make all the difference.”
Tsavliris operations
On 9 December 2024, the Bulk Carrier KAMARI - 53,822 tonnes dwt - was stranded off Recife, Brazil due to steering gear problems. The vessel was en route from Recife, Brazil to Cadiz, Spain, laden with fertilizer.
Tsavliris arranged the Salvage Tug BOKA MANTA for towage to Cadiz and the operation was completed successfully on 30 January 2025.
On 18 January 2025, the bulk carrier EVANTHIA - 53,284 tonnes dwt - was disabled due to main engine problems, 300 nm west of Cape Town in the South Atlantic. The vessel was en route from Porto d’agua, Brazil to Chittagong, Bangladesh, laden with raw sugar.
Tsavliris arranged the Salvage Tug UMKHUSELI for towage to Durban, South Africa and the operation was completed successfully on 10 February 2025.
