July 2015
INTERNATIONAL SALVAGE UNION
ISU 2014 statistics show the great benefit of the salvage industry
Gross revenues from all activity was US$ 775 million, almost exactly the same as the previous year’s figure of US$ 772 M. There is a notable increase in revenue from sources other than Lloyd’s Open Form work. The ISU 2014 annual statistics relate to income which ISU members received in 2014 but which may be due from cases in previous years.
ISU statistics 1999 - 2014 all sources of revenue 850 800 750 700 650 US DOLLARS (Millions)
The International Salvage Union (ISU) annual statistics for 2014 show a vibrant industry providing vital services to the shipping industry which help protect shipowners and insurers from huge financial losses. For example, in Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) cases alone, US$1.2 billion of property (ship and cargo) was salved relating to cases where revenue was realised during 2014.
600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
LOF REVENUE SCOPIC REVENUE WRECK REMOVAL REVENUE
At the same time a fall in revenue from wreck removal activity probably reflects the conclusion or winding down during this period of major cases such as the Costa Concordia and Rena. There has been a significant increase in the number of non-LOF cases boosting the total number of cases recorded to 249, up from 196 in 2013. The overall trend is therefore a clear increase in the number of non-LOF cases and a continuing decline in the number of LOF cases. LOF revenue has correspondingly fallen. It is down from US$ 202 M in 2013 to US$ 181 M in 2014.
response capability in an uncertain sector where income is not predictable.
Non-LOF revenue for 2014 was US$ 146 M up from US$ 62 M last time, a significant increase. It reflects a preference by shipowners to use commercial terms other than LOF. It continues to be a concern for ISU which believes that LOF has great benefits in emergency response cases. See article P2.
Wreck removal revenue has fallen from US$ 458 M in 2013 to US$ 394 M in 2014 as well-known cases were concluded or winding down.
Importantly, LOF revenues include the element of “encouragement” that has been an underlying principle of salvage for centuries. It ensures that it is worthwhile for salvors to maintain a
2006
LOF revenue as a percentage of salved values fell from 16.34% in 2013 to 15.2% in 2014. This includes cases where the settlement was agreed and those that went to arbitration. Generally, settled cases are more simple and arbitrated cases more complex. The great majority of LOF cases, around 75%, are settled.
The number of wreck removal cases was up dramatically from 48 to 91. Wreck removal cases also includes other “marine services” such as bunker removal and cargo recovery as well as dealing with wrecked hulls. Despite the fall in wreck removal income in 2014, the trend shows the increasing importance of this work for ISU members.
1
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
ART. 14 REVENUE OTHER SALVAGE REVENUE
Commenting on the statistics, ISU President Leendert Muller said: “Gross revenues have remained stable but the way in which our members receive their income has changed. "There is a noticeable rise in operations overall but a fall in LOF cases. Correspondingly, income from LOF is in decline while income from commercial contracts is up. “Nevertheless, LOF salved values are a good indicator of the benefit of our industry. It shows that our members salved US$ 1.2 billion (the combined value of cargo and vessel) worth of property that was in peril at sea. And paying 15% of the total value to save the whole of a marine adventure from potential loss represents good value. “As with our pollution prevention statistics it helps to verify the importance of the commercial salvage industry and its value to shipowners and insurers.”
ISU NEWS Annual General Meeting The ISU 2015 Annual General Meeting and associated events will take place on Thursday 01 October in central New York. Details of the booking procedure will be circulated to members shortly. SCOPIC The revised ISU5 Guarantee for SCOPIC security has been agreed with the International Group of P&I clubs to resolve certain anomalies and came into operation in March. The two main changes are in Clause 1 - the initial security demand can now be more than the minimum of US$3 million if agreed by both parties and in Clause 5 - to restore the right to arrest or re-arrest the vessel under an order from the Arbitrator obtained under Clause 3(iv) of the SCOPIC Clause for increased security. The opportunity was also taken to make some neutral changes to the language of the original to make it more consistent with that commonly in use.
cargo interest on board the salved vessel. This may run into many hundreds of guarantees. At present, these guarantees are collected in paper format. Scanned copies of the guarantees are usually emailed to the Branch but all original documents must be subsequently mailed to the SAB. Large amounts of paper are generated and kept on file. Lloyd’s has therefore developed an electronic guarantee facility which will enable the SAB to provide a secure, streamlined and speedier service to LOF users in both collecting and cancelling guarantees. Lloyd’s says it will also drastically reduce the amount of paper collected and stored by the department and have a major impact on the SAB’s carbon footprint as well as that of the users of LOF. Users will gain access to the e-Guarantee area via the SAB page of the Lloyds Agency website www.lloydsagency.com Further details of the e-Guarantee facility will be released soon.
LOF e-guarantee
Salvage and Wreck Asia
The Lloyds’ Salvage Arbitration Branch (SAB) administers Lloyd’s Form of Salvage Agreement and part of this process is the collection of salvage guarantees from the vessel and each
ISU President, Leendert Muller is set to speak at the Informa Salvage and Wreck Asia Conference, 8-9 September in Singapore, which ISU is supporting. ISU members and associates are
The importance of Lloyd's Open Form By Leendert Muller, President ISU International shipping is vital to world trade. And while there have been great improvements in ship and operational safety, casualties continue to occur and can never be completely eradicated. That is why there is a continuing and vital role for commercial marine salvors who are often the only ones standing between a casualty and an environmental catastrophe. Salvage is governed by the 1989 Salvage Convention and is conducted under many kinds of contract. Traditionally the Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) salvage contract – which has been in existence for more than 100 years – has been the most commonly used emergency response contract. A key principle is that the salvor undertakes to use his “best endeavours” to save the ship and cargo and prevent
pollution. The job is done at the salvor’s risk and he will only be paid if the job is successful. However, LOF is used less today than in the past. LOF has great benefits: it is clear and simple, enabling rapid intervention largely because there is no need to negotiate terms “upfront.” The integrity of LOF is assured by Lloyd’s, a world scale insurance market with considerable resources. And there is a clear dispute resolution process using Lloyd’s Arbitrators. ISU firmly believes it is a fair contract allowing a salvage award based on wellestablished criteria including the value of the property saved, taking account of the circumstances. The great majority of cases are settled amicably. And using other commercial terms can be more costly for owners and insurers than LOF.
2
entitled to substantial discounts. For more information visit: http://www. informamaritimeevents.com/event/ salvage-wreck-asia-conference Places of Refuge ISU is participating in a European Maritime Safety Agency “table top” exercise in September. It is part of the process to develop European Operational Guidelines on the issue of Places of Refuge for casualty vessels. ISU communications adviser, James Herbert said: “ISU has been campaigning on the issue of Places of Refuge and we are pleased to see some progress. We look forward to helping EMSA with development of the new guidelines.” Annual Review The ISU 2014 Annual Review has been published and is available at: http://www.marine-salvage.com/ ISU General Manager, Mark Hoddinott said: “This is our third Annual Review and it is a good record of our activities and achievements last year. It shows our commitment to be open and we hope our members, associates and others interested in the salvage industry will find it useful.”
There are various ideas in the shipping market as to why use of LOF has reduced. We think it may be due to a lack of knowledge about the contract and its benefits. It also suffers from a number of myths that have come to be accepted, such as it being a contract which favours the salvor. If that were the case why would so many cases be settled without dispute? ISU, and Lloyd’s, want to communicate better the benefits of LOF. We want to help shipowners and insurers - particularly property underwriters – understand LOF and recognise its key place in the conduct of marine salvage. We know there are other commercial ways of doing salvage where speed of response is not an important factor and of course we accept that. But, for emergency response, LOF is still the best way to encourage commercial salvors to save life, protect the environment and save valuable property and ISU commends its continued use.
Bugsier active in the North Sea The tanker SILVER CARLA - length overall 183 m and in ballast - suffered an engine failure in the German Bight in January 2015. The weather was challenging with Force 9-10 gales with waves up to 9 m in the shallow water near the coast. The casualty was initially held by the German authorities’ ETV and, despite the ferocious conditions, the Bugsier salvage and offshore tug BUGSIER 10 - 86 tonne BP - managed to connect to the stern and stabilize the heaving tanker. BUGSIER 9 also quickly arrived at the casualty and took over the tow from the ETV. The conditions had improved
marginally but Bugsier described the connecting and towage as a “demonstration of excellent seamanship.” BUGSIER 9 and BUGSIER 10 safely towed the stricken vessel to Wilhelmshaven, where she was berthed with assistance of other Bugsier harbor tugs. Separately, PURPLE BEACH - a bulker with a length overall of 192 m - was anchored in the German Bight Deep Water Anchorage when a fire or smoldering of the cargo of fertilizer in one cargo hold forced the crew to abandoned ship and firefighting commenced. When the fire was under control, Bugsier
was engaged to two the casualty to Wilhelmshaven using BUGSIER 10 and WOLF - 45 tonne BP (see pictures). Bugsier reported that the weather was fine and the casualty relatively safe but that due to the water pumped into the cargo hold, the casualty was trimmed heavily to the bow and had to be towed into port stern first, where she was berthed safely with assistance from other Bugsier harbour tugs.
Ardent operations The newly announced Ardent – combining Svitzer and Titan (see Members’ News P4) has undertaken a number of jobs throughout the world. It has responded to a fire aboard a RoRo vessel off the coast of Palma De Mallorca, Spain and responded to a grounded bulk carrier in the United States. Ardent, in cooperation with Ardentia Marine, was also awarded a contract to recover oil from a sunken fishing trawler off the coast of Gran Canarias, Spain. In April the vessel sustained a fire that quickly got out of control. All the crew were able to abandon the vessel safely but the intensity of the fire meant firefighting experts were unable to board the vessel and she sank approximately 15 nautical miles southwest of Gran Canarias.
The vessel is lying upright on the seabed at a depth of 2,700 meters. Oil receiving tanks will be submerged to collect oil from the sunken vessel and hoisted to the surface as they fill up. In addition, subsea “recovery domes” will be installed over areas where leaks have been detected in order to further contain any potential environmental pollution. The operation is supported by a full salvage team, the use of ROVs and a heave compensating crane on a construction support vessel. ArdentArdentia will be working in close coordination with La Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima (SASEMAR) to ensure that both immediate and longer term threats to the environment are prevented.
3
Newly-formed Ardent's corporate identity.
Members’ News Titan Salvage and Svitzer Salvage On 01 May 2015 Titan Salvage and Svitzer Salvage officially came together to form a new marine services company called Ardent. In a statement, Ardent said the goal of the company is to offer a more complete service to the maritime sector; one that includes emergency management, wreck removal, offshore decommissioning and underwater services while positioning itself to branch out into parallel sectors. Commenting on the arrangement, Peter Pietka, CEO of Ardent said: “As Ardent matures we will continue to expand and diversify according to our customers’ needs.” In addition to Peter Pietka, the Ardent management team includes Paul van’t Hof as Chief Operations Officer (COO), formerly COO of Svitzer Salvage and salvage master; Renier van den Bichelaer, the former Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Svitzer Salvage will serves as the CCO and Jeff Andreini, formerly the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Crowley Technical Services will join Ardent in the role of CFO. The company will be headquartered in Houston, Texas with its main international operational hub in Ijmuiden, the Netherlands. Ardent will also have key offices and operations in Singapore, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Greece and Korea. The expansion of the Ardent network has already begun with an agreement to form a joint venture with Subtech, a leading African diving and marine services company. Ardent said the agreement will increase its responsiveness and operational capability throughout SubSaharan Africa and that it provides clients with support and assurance in areas that have been traditionally challenging to operate in. The Joint Venture will be based at Subtech’s existing Cape Town facility with supporting offices in Namibia, Mozambique and Mauritius. Neil Scott Williams, Director of salvage at Subtech has been appointed to run the joint venture as General Manager of Ardent Subtech.
was founded by Walter J Hinneberg in the 1950s and has since developed a significant network.
Resolve
Tsavliris says it has an excellent reputation in the German and international shipping market. Hinneberg’s core business is newbuildings and sale and purchase and Tsavliris says its considerable general experience in shipping means they are well-placed to handle salvage, towage and maritime services. Tsavliris hosted the recent European Tug Owners’ Association 52nd Annual Meeting in Athens. See picture below. The first AGM of the ETA in Greece took place 50 years ago in Piraeus, in 1965, followed in later years by meetings in Athens, Corfu and Crete. At present the ETA has 81 full members in 21 countries that own or operate a combined fleet of some 700 tugs in European ports. Each member-country has a Representative on the Supervisory Committee, nominated by the full members of the individual countries or the respective national tugowners’ association. Nicolas A Tsavliris is the Representative for Greece. Elsewhere, Tsavliris competed in the charity rowing competition held by ISU Associate Member, Hill Dickinson, at the picturesque Microlimano in Kastella and came second, winning the silver medal. Tsavliris Super Team, Christine Iliaki and Megaklis Efthimiopoulos, together with Evdemon Team competed against ten other teams with two boats competing against each other in each “heat”.
Resolve Marine’s President and CEO, Joseph Farrell Jr (above with his wife Mary Beth) has been awarded this year’s Seafarers’ House Golden Compass Award. The award is given annually to those who have achieved distinction in the maritime world, those whose vocation has been the sea or those who have ministered to or assisted seafarers. Seafarers’ House executive director Lesley Warrick noted Mr Farrell’s 45 year maritime career and the growth of Resolve Marine under his leadership and said: “Joe Farrell is a true American success story. We are delighted to celebrate his great accomplishments and heart.” In response Mr Farrell said: “I am honoured and also humbled because, as a deeply faithful person, I admire the Seafarers’ House for its multi-faith service.”
Tsavliris Tsavliris Salvage Group has appointed Walter J. Hinneberg GmbH, Hamburg, as its exclusive representative for the German Shipping and Marine Insurance market. Hinneberg has been in existence for over 60 years in the shipbroking and shipbuilding business. The company
Left to right: Andreas A Tsavliris, Principal of Tsavliris Salvage; Peter Vierstraete, General Manager of SMIT Northwest Europe; Nicolas A Tsavliris, Principal of Tsavliris Salvage; Ioannis Theotokas, Secretary General of Maritime Affairs; Alex Gigilinis, President of Gigilinis Group; Mario Mizzi, CEO of Tug Malta and Chairman of ETA.
4
Tsavliris operations In February the bulker GOODFAITH - dwt 27,308 tonnes - grounded on the coast of Andros island, Greece in adverse weather conditions. All 22 crew members were rescued by helicopters and by Special Forces from the shore. The vessel had been on passage in ballast, from Greece to Ukraine. Tsavliris Salvage was contracted under LOF to provide salvage assistance. The salvage tug MEGAS ALEXANDROS (6,250 BHP, 73 TBP) was mobilized from Piraeus and Environmental Protection Engineering SA was engaged to provide environmental protection and antipollution services. The oil recovery vessel AEGIS I was also deployed. Bad weather meant the salvage team was not initially able to board the casualty either by sea or by land. When the salvage team did get aboard they reported that the engine room, the fore peak tank and the cargo holds No 1, No 3, No 4 and No 5 were flooded, whilst cargo holds No 4, No 5 and the engine room were contaminated with fuel oil. The vessel was wedged between rocks aft and had a list to port. When conditions improved, pumping out of fuel oil began and the removal of bunkers and other pollutants was completed on 28 March. About 300 tonnes of fuel oil and 10 tonnes of diesel oil were removed and the team and equipment were demobilised. On 13 May 2015, the Aframax tanker LADY M, laden with about 93,000 tonnes of low sulphur fuel oil, was immobilized about 500 nautical miles south of Azores due to a fire in the main electrical panel.
Tsavlliris was contracted under LOF and sent its tug TSAVLIRIS HELLAS from her station at Ponta Delgada, Azores to assist the casualty and arrived on 16 May and towage commenced towards Las Palmas. The tow arrived at the Gran Canaria area on 27 May. A skeleton team boarded the casualty by helicopter to prepare the vessel for inspection and, after Spanish Maritime Administration’s Surveyor Team inspections, permission to enter port was granted and the vessel proceeded to Las Palmas port and berthed at Leon Y Castillo Maciente container terminal with the assistance of port tugs. The LADY M was then supplied with electricity from portable diesel generators provided by the salvors before being moved to another berth where inert gas was supplied to the cargo tanks from a portable shore Inert Gas Generator (IGG). Steam for the cargo tanks' heating coils was provided by a steam generator in
ETA seeks new Secretary General The European Tugowners Association (ETA) whose members operate some 700 tugboats and employ over 8,000 people is inviting applications for the position of Secretary General. The role is principally to implement the strategic and operational decisions made by the General Meeting or the Supervisory Committee. The Secretary General works closely with the Chairman and the Deputy-Chairman of ETA, as well as other ETA officers, the Supervisory Committee members and the general membership. The Secretary General is responsible for the day-to-day running of ETA’s secretariat
providing administrative support to the organization, and acting as a point of contact for general enquiries as well as disseminating relevant information among ETA’s members, participating in meetings held in relevant forums to advocate ETA’s agenda and to advance the interests of the Association with the EU Commission and the European Parliament. The post holder will be self-motivated, able to work independently and to communicate clearly and fluently in English at a professional level both orally and in writing. Knowledge of other European languages will be an asset. Candidates must have reasonable 5
order to bring temperatures to a safe level. The heavy portable equipment had been airlifted from the Netherlands by cargo plane. The oil cargo was assessed by a chemistry team and found to be safe and demobilisation of personnel, craft and equipment commenced on 12 June 2015. Elsewhere, the cutter suction dredger TIANDAO caught fire, capsized and sank at the Port of Gizan in Saudi Arabia in November 2014. CHEC, a Chinese civil engineering harbour construction company, owners of the dredger, engaged Huta Marine Works' 1,200 tons SWL sheer leg crane (Huta 311) for the refloating operation. Tsvliris Salvage was contracted by Huta Marine Works to provide technical consultancy and support including planning, surveillance and risk assessment and after the successful refloating operation of the sunken dredger the project was concluded in late April.
experience in the wider shipping industry and relevant EU institutions and possess strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills to enable them to communicate effectively with the directors and senior management of a diverse range of Association Members. More information is available at www. eurotugowners.com and applications, including a detailed CV, should be submitted by email to Mario Mizzi – Chairman, ETA, mmizzi@tugmalta.com and Leendert Muller – Deputy Chairman, ETA, lmuller@multraship.com by 31 August, 2015. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview in Brussels. The process will end with a decision of the General Assembly by May 2016.
Associates’ News ISU welcomes the following new members
August to shortlist submissions and decide which papers will be presented.
Prefecture Naval Argentina, Servicio de Salvamento, Incendio y Proteccion Ambiental (Argentine Coast Guard - Salvage, Firefighting and Environmental Protection Service)
Intermanager
Av. Tomas A. Edison 988 Dársena “E” Puerto Buenos Aires Ciudad Autonoma De Buenos Aires C1104aco República Argentina Tel: 54 11 4576-7622 / 54 11 4576-7623 / 54 11 4576-7641 Email: salvamento@prefecturanaval.gov.ar www.prefecturanaval.gov.ar Van Der Pers Maritime Walewegje 1 3291 AW Strijen, The Netherlands Tel: office: +31 78 674 72 91 24/7 +31 653 67 23 92 Email: info@consultingmarinechemist.nl www.consultingmarinechemist.nl Sociedad Diving Service Salvage Limitada Barros Arana #424 Cerro Esperanza Valparaíso Chile Tel: +56 32 2215174 Email: alejandro@divingservice.cl www.divingservice.cl ABR Company Limited The organisers of the major industry conference, ITS Boston 2016, have extended the deadline for submission of paper proposals following requests from several potential presenters for more time. The deadline is now Friday 31 July 2015. Those wishing to submit a paper should visit: www.tugandosv.com/its2016-papersubmission The conference is from 23-27 May 2016, at the Hynes Convention Centre in Boston, USA and is the world’s largest gathering of tug, towage, salvage and OSV experts. Garth Manson, managing director of The ABR Company, which runs the event, said: “As always we try to achieve a high quality, balanced programme covering the tug, salvage and offshore sectors, so we have extended the deadline by a month.” The Steering committee will meet in
Intermanager is to investigate minimum manning levels for different types of vessels trading on different trade routes and carrying different cargo types to determine whether and how these need to be reviewed. It aims to better understand manning levels’ implications for safety and efficiency and will discuss the issue with flag states to take into account required rest hours as set under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). The rules currently in place state the minimum number of personnel needed to move a ship safely from one port to another. InterManager says it is concerned that these rules were not just meant to set a crew complement number but were intended also to serve as a mechanism to improve overall operational status. Gerardo Borromeo, InterManager President, said: “Managers are concerned that these previously agreed minimum manning levels may not be properly reflective of today’s marketplace. For example, a VLCC calling at seven ports a year may have a minimum manning level of 18 but a smaller chemical tanker, calling at over 100 ports in the same period may be required to operate with a much lower crew complement of say 12. "This has concerning implications when you consider the number of ports such a vessel may be visiting in a very short period of time.” BIMCO BIMCO has taken ownership of the unique Shipping KPI System that allows shipowners and managers to compare their ships’ efficiency against the performance of the industry and sector averages. The Shipping KPI System is based on 64 different performance indicators to allow the most specific and accurate comparison of ships – within each sector and more broadly across the industry – that is currently available. The data collected is anonymised, protecting commercial confidentiality. The KPI Standard covers: • • • •
health and safety management and performance HR management performance environmental performance navigational safety performance 6
• operational performance • security performance and technical performance. BIMCO will provide the Shipping KPI System free of charge to its members (with a nominal set-up fee for new users) and will run the tool for the entire industry on a not-for-profit basis. Moore Stephens Accountancy firm Chantrey Vellacott DFK LLP is to merge with Moore Stephens LLP and will use the Moore Stephens name and brand. The combined partnership will become members of the Moore Stephens International network, which has a turnover of $2.7 billion and offices in 103 countries. Barge Master
Above: The offshore platform connection bridge sitting on the Barge Master system installed on the deck of a support vessel.
Barge Master’s motion compensation platform was used to install a permanent connection bridge on the production platform of Shell’s Malampaya gas project in the Philippines. Barge Master was contracted by Boskalis for the delicate task of placing the 151 tonne unit. The platform eliminates the roll, pitch and heave motions of the parent vessel. The modular system has a capacity of 700 tonnes with an average capacity of 160 tonnes at 12 metres radius. The new, multi-purpose construction DP2 vessel NDEAVOR played a central role in job. The Barge Master system was placed on the aft of the vessel and the permanent bridge was loaded onto it and sailed out to the gas field. Once on site, the bridge was stabilized by the Barge Master system in order to be lifted off safely by four temporary hoists.
SMIT – BALTIC ACE update by the end of this summer. Elsewhere Smit successfully refloated the jack-up platform PERRO NEGRO 6 which suffered a punch-through while working near the mouth of the Congo River in 2013. After the initial removal of pollutants, a dedicated work and accommodation platform was constructed consisting of living quarters, crane capacity and strong points for chain pullers. Preparation of the hull was undertaken by a team of 30 salvors, supported by additional marine and shore teams. In early February 2015 Smit refloated and safely removed the jack-up rig from her capsized and inverted position.
In 2014 the Dutch Authorities awarded Smit’s parent company, Boskalis, in cooperation with fellow ISU member Mammoet Salvage the contract to remove and dispose of the BALTIC ACE, her bunkers and cargo. The object was to minimize the environmental threat and make safe the important Dutch shipping channel which the wreck was making hazardous. Following extensive assessment, the chosen methodology was similar to the well-known case of the TRICOLOR cutting the vessel in to manageable slices to be lifted by sheerlegs. The exposed North Sea conditions and 35 metre water depth increased the difficulties. The operation started during the summer months of 2014 when approximately 500 tonnes of heavy bunkers were removed without any spillage in 10 days. It used the innovative equipment first seen on the on the KOEM/Kyung Sin project in 2011 off
the Republic of Korea. This year, wreck removal operations started with the drilling and cutting of the wreck-sections. Smit updated its patented cutting wire system and for the first time a complete ship was successfully cut into parts from floating barges. The cutting wire technique was previously used from fixed objects. For example on the wreck removal of the Russian submarine the KURSK, suction anchors were used and for the car carrier TRICOLOR jack-up platforms were used. The updated cutting system using new technology winches, survey and monitoring systems and active motion compensation meant the seven cuts were completed in 21 net days in waves of up to 2 metres. The first cut-sections have already been loaded onto the barges for transportation to Rotterdam for scrap processing (see picture). Smit hopes to conclude the work
Parbuckling of AMADEO 1 Resolve Salvage & Fire has parbuckled the 132 m RoRo Ferry AMADEO 1, which grounded in Chile's Kirke Canal. After four months of preparation, the parbuckling operation, one of the most crucial steps in the removal of the wreck, commenced on 23rd June. The vessel was secured by a bow hold back system and a stern hold back system from the wreck to rock anchors on shore. In cold weather conditions the crane barges RMG 302 and MARMAC 302 jointly parbuckled the vessel in steps, reducing the list from 72 to 3 degrees over several days. 7
Smit described it as a complex project not only technically but also due to the harsh marine environment with fast currents and limited visibly for the divers. After the initial removal of some leg sections next to the platform, the hull was removed along with the remaining legs. Smit reports that it has also been active in emergency response. In January it refloated a grounded LNG vessel in West Africa in a tight and precarious position. It was the first time a cargo lightering operation of a grounded LNG vessel was undertaken. After discharging a considerable amount of the cargo, the vessel was safely refloated. Once afloat, the cargo was re-loaded offshore and the vessel was able to continue her voyage. Another successful refloating operation was the US Navy chartered vessel the USNS SGT METEJ KOCAK - which grounded in Japan and breached her hull following a typhoon. Other operations took place in Korea, Cameroon, Brazil and the US.
International Monitor IMO – new Secretary General
cost in the region of US$100 million.
Mr Ki-tack Lim (Republic of Korea) has been elected as the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with effect from 1 January 2016, for an initial term of four years.
Mediterranean migrant crisis
The vote took place during the 114th session of the 40-Member strong IMO Council. The decision will be submitted to the IMO Assembly for approval. Mr Lim is currently president of Busan Port Authority. He served as the Republic of Korea’s Deputy Permanent Representative to IMO from 2006 to 2009 and was Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation from 2002 to 2004. Mr Lim studied nautical science at the Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, graduating in 1977. He worked on ships as a Korean naval officer and for Sanko Shipping Co. He joined the Korea Maritime and Port Administration in 1985. In 2006, Mr Lim was appointed as Maritime Attaché, minister-counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in London and led all IMO work for the Republic of Korea, serving as Deputy Permanent Representative to IMO up to August 2009. Mr Lim was then appointed as Director General for Maritime Safety Policy Bureau at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM). He led the delegation of the Republic of Korea to the IMO Assembly in 2009. Republic of Korea The government of South Korea has opened bidding to select a contractor to remove the wreck of the SEWOL, the ferry which sank in April 2014. 304 people lost their lives of whom 250 were high school students on a school trip. The 6,825-ton ferry sank in 44 meters of water off the island of Jindo. The country’s Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries indicated that the selection process will focus mostly on the bidders’ ability to safely raise the ferry without any further damage to the ship, which is believed to hold the bodies of the last nine passengers still unaccounted for. International contractors have been encouraged to cooperate with Korean companies and the outcome of the tender will be announced at the end of July with operations expected to start in September. Estimates vary but he job is expected to
Members of the European Union have increased their efforts to provide search and rescue facilities through its "Operation Triton", to deal with the great number of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European countries. There have been numerous disasters in which migrants have been drowned when unseaworthy craft have foundered. Shipowners, through the International Chamber of Shipping, welcomed the increase in resources but said that not enough was being done. ICS Chairman, Masamichi Morooka, said: “It is simply not acceptable that merchant ships are still being routinely called upon by Rescue Co-ordination Centres to assist with the majority of rescue operations currently taking place, having already assisted with the rescue of more than 50,000 people since the crisis started to escalate last year. “It is unreasonable for governments to continue relying on merchant ships as a long term solution, placing civilian merchant seafarers at considerable risk. The current situation is neither sustainable nor tenable.” The merchant shipping industry has participated in almost 1,000 migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean in the past 16 months. UK The master of a cruise liner which was damaged going over rocky shoals has pleaded guilty to failure to properly passage plan in breach of SOLAS and failure to report the incident contrary to the Merchant Shipping vessel traffic monitoring and reporting requirement regulations. It came after the Bahamas registered cruise liner HAMBURG called in to Tobermory en-route from Dublin to Hamburg. On entering Tobermory the port side of the vessel grazed along the side of rocks and the propeller struck, causing the ship briefly to black out. The port engine could no longer be used and the ship limped in to Tobermory Bay. After an internal inspection the ship was instructed by owners to proceed to Belfast. At around 6pm, the mother of a crew member spoke to her daughter and was told what had happened. She lost the 8
phone signal and, fearing the worst, called the Irish coastguard. They in turn called the UK Coastguard, who contacted the ship. The Surveyor in Charge of Maritime and Coastguard Agency Glasgow, Fraser Heasley said: ‘This incident could very nearly have ended in tragedy. The master failed in his duty to keep a proper lookout and to ensure the safety of his passengers and crew. Following the grounding he proceeded directly to Belfast without notifying the appropriate authorities or accurately assessing the extent of bottom damage by an underwater dive survey.’ IACS The International Association of Classifications Societies (IACS) announced the adoption of new Unified Requirements that will further improve the safety of Large Container Ships by enhancing consistency between preexisting Class Society provisions in this area. Amalgamated within a single new Unified Requirement (UR S11A) are three new safety measures that provide a robust, timely and complete response to the findings of the investigation by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) issued in March 2015 and subsequent papers to the IMO. UR S11A is further complemented by an additional Unified Requirement (UR S34) which deals with minimum loading conditions to be analysed. It follows publication of the casualty investigation report into the MOL Comfort incident by Japan’s MLIT in March of this year.
Salvage World is produced by the International Salvage Union. For matters relating to the publication contact: James Herbert, ISU communications advisor. Tel: +44 1423 330 505 Email: admin@gemcomms.com For general enquiries contact: ISU, Holland House 1-4 Bury Street London EC3A 5AW Tel: +44 20 7220 6597 Email: ISU@marine-salvage.com