Salvage World Q3 2022

Lloyd’s Open Form - progress in work to increase usage

Momentum is building in the work to re-invigorate the Lloyd’s Open Form salvage contract following the threat to its existence last year when Lloyd’s considered closing its salvage arbitration branch.

There was a widespread demonstration of support for the contract and Lloyd’s initiated a programme of work with key stakeholders to find ways to increase use of the form.

Work has now been grouped into three areas: linking LOF to the Environment, Social and Governance agenda that is so important to today’s businesses including shipping and insurance. Promoting more use of the contract in Asia and the Far East and looking at the awards and costs associated with using the form. The importance of education about the contract is considered central throughout the workstreams.

The working groups are made up of a wide range of interested parties and ISU is fully represented on all three by members of the Executive Committee and Salvage sub-Committee. Initial sessions have now taken place and the outputs are to be considered by the Lloyd’s salvage Group in November.

At the same time, the International Group of leading P&I Clubs (IG) has published its report into delays into emergency response contracting (cover image below right). The comprehensive report was prepared by Hugh Shaw, the wellrespected former UK Secretary of State’s Representative for Salvage and Maritime Intervention (SoSRep).

The report found that delays were occurring: “Over 80 per cent of stakeholders felt that ‘avoidable delays’ in the contracting and engagement of salvage services might lead to the escalation of a situation to a point where significant damage, loss and/or danger to life might occur”.

Few casualties improve with age and delay can lead to worsening of the situation with the potential for increased risk of loss of property - sometimes

even total loss - and damage to the environment. The report notes that: “Any delays in decision making may not only have a detrimental effect on the safety of life of those onboard but may ultimately determine the fate of the vessel, and its cargo, with the potential for consequential damage to the environment. The consequences of delays in requesting, or agreeing salvage services can be disastrous, especially if there is damage, or the potential of damage, to the marine environment.”

Delay was due to a number of factors including erosion of the authority of masters and deference to shore-based decision making and Mr Shaw also reported: “the evidence gathered in this report clearly showed that financial considerations significantly influence the choice of contract, or salvage services provided.” Mr Shaw made a number of recommendations. They include considerations about LOF, improved transparency, information and training, improved communication between owners, managers, masters

and authorities during incidents and the possibility of a cross industry group to consider a code of practice on emergency response. The recommendations and conclusions will help to inform the Lloyd’s LOF workstreams.

Rapid intervention and full cooperation in the interests of the owner is always the best approach and ISU members stand ready to offer their services.

ISU member Les Abeilles provided services to the disabled bulker TBC PROGRESS in 2021 under Lloyd's Open Form in severe weather - storm force 10 with 6 metre waves. The ABEILLE LIBERTÉ took the casualty under tow when she was just 3 nautical miles from the coast thus avoiding grounding with total loss on the rocky shore and substantial pollution.

ISU AGM Rotterdam

In mid-September, the ISU held its 68th Annual Meeting at the Marriott Hotel in central Rotterdam. The meeting was hosted by ISU members Boluda, Smit and Multraship who also generously sponsored the gala dinner.

The events began with a welcome reception attended by ISU members, Dutch associate members, Special Casualty Representatives and senior representatives from the Dutch and Belgian shipping community. Multraship’s newly re-fitted Dutch ERTV MULTRASHIP COMMANDER paid a courtesy call to the Maas riverside venue along with the Boluda tug, VB MARS.

The AGM was attended by some 70 participants from 30 of the ISU’s full members. The ISU prides itself on being the global voice of the salvage industry and there were representatives from Australia, Japan, South and North America, The Philippines, Africa and Europe. The meeting attended to the required statutory business as well as hearing updates from the secretariat including a round-up of legal matters from Legal Adviser, Richard Gun and environmental protection from new Secretary General, James Herbert.

The meeting also considered modifications to the ISU’s annual statistics and was briefed on ISU strategy for the next three years. Chair of the Salvage sub-Committee, Multraship’s Eline Muller, led an open forum discussion with

United SalvageTasmanian operation

In January 2022, two harbour tugs in the port of Devonport, Tasmania, were rendered constructive total losses after being in collision with a bulk carrier. United Salvage was contracted to remove the hydrocarbons from both vessels.

United Salvage alsoo continued with the wreck removal operation commencing in March. Both tugs, heavily damaged, were prepared for lifting as whole vessels.

Extensive diving work performed by United’s divers prepared both hulls for the lifting operation.

Clockwise from top: Delegates at the ISU AGM; "VIP" guests Joop Timmermans (left) and Alfred Hubner (right) with ISU President Nick Sloane. Both guests were long serving members of the ISU Executive Committee; Jeremy Russell KC at the lectern discussing Lloyd's Open Form.

attending members and a panel of ISU Executives.

Jeremy Russell KC, the Lloyd’s Appeal Arbitrator, gave a talk about Lloyd’s Open From in the light of the International Group of P&I Clubs’ recent report into delays in emergency response contacting and addressed issues such as fairness,

trust and the way in which awards are assessed in the context of the Salvage Convention.

The AGM also had a number of social events including a Welcome Reception at the exclusive rowing and sailing club, Societeit aan de Maas and the gala dinner was held at the beautiful Wereldmuseum also on the banks of the Maas. The ISU AGM is an excellent opportunity to refresh existing relationships and build new partnerships. The 2023 edition will be held in Miami.

was chartered to undertake the lift and purpose built cradles were fitted to her hatches to receive both hulls.

The lifts were completed in August 2022 and both vessels were removed from the port for recycling.

Tsavliris

The 13th Hydra Shipping Conference was successfully organised on 17 September 2022 with the title: "Are we experiencing the other side of midnight?"

The event was attended by leading Greek shipowners, senior shipping executives, consultants, academics and members of historical shipping families of Hydra.

Smit

Following HAL’s offer, 13.7% of the issued share capital of Smit’s parent, Boskalis, was tendered which, together with the shares already held by HAL and shares to which HAL is entitled, represented approximately 98.3% of the issued share capital of Boskalis. HAL and Boskalis said they would seek the delisting of the shares from Euronext Amsterdam and HAL will commence statutory buy-out proceedings to acquire the remaining shares.

As part of the ISU AGM events, Smit laid on a tour of its extensive salvage warehouse at Vlaardingen for ISU AGM delegates to see its comprehensive array of salvage equipment (below).

Multraship

Multraship has now brought the MULTRASHIP COMMANDER (below, top) into service as the third of its Dutch coastguard-contracted Emergency Rescue and Towing Vessels (ERTVs).

It operates protecting the Borssele wind farms while the MULTRASHIP PROTECTOR (below, centre) serves the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farms. The GUARDIAN (below, bottom) is based in Den Helder, and ensures the safety of shipping in the northern part of the North Sea.

The conference president was George A Tsavliris (above, middle) and the keynote speaker was Simeon Palios, president, Diana Shipping Services.

Participants in the discussion groups were Angie Hartmann, StarBulk, executive VP - Crew Affairs; Manolis Vordonis, former executive director of Thenamaris Ship Management; Panos Zachariadis, technical director, Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management; John Platsidakis, honorary president Intercargo; Kostis Stambolis, founding Partner, Institute for Energy of SE Europe (IENE); Stavros Hatzigrigoris, Advanced Engineering Service and other shipping personalities.

ISU News

Seatrade Maritime Salvage & Wreck annual conference

Informa’s annual Salvage & Wreck conference returns to London on 30 November and 1 December focussing on "Supporting a Sustainable Future".

Now under Informa’s headline maritime brand Seatrade Maritime, the organisers say this year’s conference "offers a fresh and future-gazing look at the industry and enjoys support once again from ISU".

Full ISU Members can get 40% off conference passes using code ISU2022 (in addition to early bird discounts) making it more accessible than ever while Associate Members can get 25% off. See the agenda and book your full member place at: https://informaconnect.com/

salvage-wreck-removal and contact ian. beattie@informa.com for all associate member bookings.

Associate Members Day 2023

The ISU Associate Members’ Day will be held on 22 March at the same venue as the previous edition, The Merchant Taylors’ Hall. The programme is under development but expect a mix of salvage case studies, topical panel sessions, an update on legal and environmental matters.

Executive Committee membership

President of the ISU, Captain Nicholas Sloane, welcomed new ISU Executive Committee member, Carlos L Paz to his first committee meeting in Rotterdam. Mr

Paz is the CEO, Chairman and Technical Director of Argentinian ISU member, Raul Negro & CIA S.A. He has 40 years’ experience and has conducted more than 100 salvage operations in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The same meeting was the last to be attended by Li Jianping of China Rescue and Salvage who has resigned from the committee ahead of his retirement in 2023.

Mr Sloane thanked Li Jianping for his long service on the committee and contribution to the ISU. Suitably qualified candidates from ISU full member companies may apply to the Secretary General if they wish to be considered for membership of the Executive Committee.

Resolve Marine deals with drilling rigs and historic battleship

A drilling rig which was in place and jacked-up some 87 miles off the coast of Mumbai when Cyclone Taukatae hit in May 2021. The damage sustained during the cyclone resulted in the entire drilling derrick and supporting structures being lost overboard together with other debris and equipment from the deck of the rig.

Resolve Marine was contracted by the owners/P&I Club to assist with the recovery of the derrick which was resting in 60 metres of water and against the leg of the rig. Using a combination of chain pullers deployed from a barge, Resolve successfully removed the derrick and associated debris just before the onset of monsoon season, which enabled the drilling rig to be safely moved from the oil field.

Elsewhere, off the coast of Malaysia, a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) lost stability during a pre-load sequence and subsequently sank in 90 metres of water. Again, Resolve was called upon by the owners and their P&I insurers to assist with phase one of the responsethe removal of the helideck which was accomplished utilizing ultra-thermic cutting and the barge’s 300 tonne crane. The second phase of the operation was the removal and disposal of the remaining hydrocarbons on the wreck. The team used SAT divers with ROV support to hottap the tanks to assess and safely recover the pollutants.

Elsewhere, Resolve Marine assisted a 17,000 TEU container vessel which sustained a serious cargo collapse and damage due to heavy weather in the Gulf of Aden. Resolve provided advice to the owners on the steps needed to secure the damaged containers permitting the vessel to proceed without special assistance to a port of refuge. The Resolve team then safely unloaded the damaged, shifted and collapsed containers allowing the vessel to continue on her voyage.

In a very different operation, Resolve Marine said it was was honoured to play a role in moving the iconic Battleship TEXAS. In August 2022, the vessel was safely towed down the Houston ship channel and then drydocked for extensive repairs. This operation was the culmination of over two years of Resolve Marine’s partnership with Valkor Energy Services (Valkor) and the Battleship Texas

Foundation (BTF) in preparing the vessel for towage and drydocking.

In 2020, Resolve Marine performed an extensive foaming operation of the blister tanks of the ship. The project was among the largest maritime foam projects ever undertaken, with an estimated 25,000 gallons of unexpanded foam applied into over 40 blister and stern tanks. When expanded, the foam acted to stabilize the vessel with approximately 2,800 long tons of retainable buoyancy. The foam also supported the deteriorated outer shell plating and decreased water ingress dramatically so that the TEXAS could be maintained by a skeleton maintenance crew.

In 2022 a drydock was prepared for the TEXAS and Resolve Marine provided engineering analysis and recommendations to mitigate risk during

the ship’s tow. The tow plan was led by Valkor with close collaboration between US Coast Guard,tug operators and pilots.

In total, over fifty dewatering pumps, equivalent to nearly 20,000 gallons per minute pumping capacity, were installed to ensure a safe tow. Resolve Marine supplied an onboard damage control and salvage team which included a full dive team and spread.

Resolve described the tow as a “resounding success and a true testament to the strength of all parties working tirelessly”.

An important part of this project is also a personal one for the company. Joe Farrell, the father of Joe Farrell, Jr. and the founder of Resolve Marine, landed in Normandy in WWII under the protection of the Battleship TEXAS.

Ardentia - saving life at sea

Spanish ISU member, Ardentia, said its most significant recent case, due to its human component, was the rescue of the solo skipper of French sailboat JEANNE SOLO SAILOR in August. The yachtsman remained trapped inside for 16 hours thanks to an air bubble formed when the boat capsized.

Working for Salvamento Marítimo, a team of divers from Ardentia Marine managed to get inside the sailing boat, despite the high seas on the coast of A Coruña, near the Sisargas Islands. The team finally rescued the 62-year-old undoubtedly saving his life.

Elsewhere, another complex operation was the refloating of the 50 metre sailing boat ELEONORA E, which sank last June in the Port of Tarragona. Ardentia removed the bunker fuel and then won the tender to refloat her. The ELEONORA E was refloated using a combination of underwater repairs, airbags and shore cranes, causing no further damage to the yacht.

Ardentia’s main wreck removal operation during the period was the OLE, a catamaran ferry sunk at 30 metre depth

Smit operations

In early September 2022, MV HELGE sailed along the Danish coast in northern direction when the vessel WILD COSMOS collided with her stern while both vessels were sailing in the same direction.

Significant damage occurred to the HELGE resulting in water ingress in the engine room and damage to the hatch covers and bilge. The vessel starting listing to starboard and was abandoned by crew via life raft followed by helicopter evacuation to Esbjerg.

A Smit Salvage emergency response team was immediately activated and swiftly agreed with the client the signing of a salvage contract on LOF 2020 basis. In parallel, a salvage team was mobilised to Esbjerg and a tug of Smit’s local partner was instructed to sail to the casualty.

The salvage team was lowered onto the HELGE by helicopter from Esbjerg and at the same time the tugboat arrived at site allowing it to establish a tow connection just before last light (right).

in Cartagena, Spain. The vessel was refloated using airbags and then lifted to the quayside using shore cranes. Ardentia supervised the scrapping operation on site.

Other salvage and wreck removal operations during Q3 included the AKU AKU stranded in Alicante, and the wreck removal of the DRAGON in ComaRuga, both in Spain.

Overnight, the vessel was towed to Esbjerg where the next day she was permitted to enter the port. To stabilize the vessel, cargo of the HELGE was offloaded into coasters with the assistance of the versatile vessel MULTRASALVOR 6, owned by fellow ISU member Multraship.

These efficiently handled operations meant that the hull damage near the engine room came above water level. This allowed the engine room to be dewatered and cleaned after which she was re-

delivered to the owners.

Also during Q3 of this year the teams of Smit Salvage were, among other operations, involved in two rescue tows off the Arabian peninsula in severe weather conditions. Both vessels experienced main engine problems and were assisted by the powerful tugs of Smit’s parent company Boskalis. With the remote guidance of Smit’s salvage masters, both vessels were successfully brought to a safe destination.

Donjon yacht fire and warship SINKEX

In June, fire broke out on a cruise yacht with more than 100 passengers aboard at the time, most of them local elementary school students.

The fire started near the stern of the vessel, probably originating in the ship’s engine room. The passengers were evacuated safely from the dining cruise on the Elizabeth River near Naval Station Norfolk.

Due to the robust life safety response, thankfully there were no injuries. The vessel was granted safe harbour and permission to dock at Naval Station Norfolk where firefighting, salvage and other response operations could take place at the pier side. And while flames appeared to be kept down in the afternoon, the fire increased again during the night, with heavy smoke and flames coming from the vessel.

The vessel’s OPA 90 Vessel Response Plan was activated and Donjon-SMIT quickly mobilised key assets and personnel to Naval Station Norfolk where planning and response activities began. Local Donjon personnel and equipment arrived on scene immediately and began

to coordinate with the Navy and local fire department teams on tactics, as additional equipment and personnel came in to support operations. In addition to ongoing fire suppression and boundary cooling, dewatering became a primary objective.

Due to the continuing firefighting measures, concerns regarding responder safety were of paramount concern, specifically with regards to the stability of the vessel. Working with the Unified Command, Donjon-SMIT developed and executed a plan to gain entry and deploy de-watering pumps in the engine room and galley, while continuing fire suppression activities.

In addition to the firefighting entry team, divers were positioned for any potential emergency rescue operations. Upon extinguishing the fire, overhaul, and dewatering, the vessel was towed to a local shipyard and delivered to its owners.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Donjon’s tug ATLANTIC SALVOR and a salvage team supported Exercise Atlantic Thunder 22, in which US Naval Forces Europe, US Air Forces Europe, and the UK Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sank the

Tsavliris yacht recovery jobs

During the night of 31 August 2022, the Motor Yacht ZEPPELIN grounded severely on rocks off Spetses Island, Greece.

Tsavliris promptly arranged on behalf of the owners a crane barge (SWL 120 tonnes - picture right) for lifting and transporting the casualty to a shipyard on Salamis Island.

Just a few days later, on 3 September 2022, the Motor Yacht 007 struck rocks of Kythnos Island, Greece, and was beached at the nearby Kolones Bay. The vessel remains in a semi-sunken condition, lying on her port side.

Tsavliris assisted the casualty mobilising a salvage master, technicians and a diving team for inspections. The OSV AEGIS, operated by EPE, had also mobilised for anti-pollution services. The owner’s Master was assisted in the removal of valuable items from cabins including expensive jewelry. The wreck removal tender has been arranged by the Owner’s/P&I club.

decommissioned guided missile frigate exUSS Boone, during the live-fire SINKEX to develop combined proficiency in tactics, targeting and live-firing against a surface target at sea.

Donjon’s salvage team readied the ex-USS BOONE in Philadelphia, PA and in Campbeltown, Scotland prior to the exercise. Ex-BOONE is a decommissioned guided missile frigate, which entered United States Naval service in 1982. Prior to being transported for participation in a sinking exercise, the vessel underwent a rigorous cleaning process for environmental safety.

The ex-USS BOONE was towed from Philadelphia to Campbeltown, Scotland by Donjon’s tug Atlantic Salvor in August. Following final preparations in port, the frigate was towed by the ATLANTIC SALVOR to the exercise location where the tug tended the ex-USS BOONE as necessary until released for her voyage home. In a successful exercise, multiple munitions were fired at the warship providing excellent training for the service personnel.

Focus on Ultratug

ISU Chilean member, Ultratug Ltda. acquired in 2020 the AHTS/Salvage Tug LENGA (below), in order to “continue strengthening its operations in the South American Cone and Antarctica.”

The name evokes a characteristic Chilean Patagonian tree, also known as White Oak or Oak of Tierra del Fuego, and is the second vessel of this type to bear this name. LENGA was built by Fergusson Shipyards in Scotland and entered into service in 2000, working mainly in the North Sea offshore market under the Norwegian flag. The previous owner and operator was fellow ISU member, Buksér og Berging and the former name was BB TROLL.

The vessel has 165 tonnes bollard pull, which allows ocean towage operations of large vessels as well as salvage operations in the region. Its main particulars are: length overall 74m; breadth 16m; draft 6.5m; DW: 1970t; deck area 550m2; fuel cargo 1.200m3; fresh water cargo 1100 m3. Propulsion is provided by 2 main engines Wärtsilä 12V32/5.500 kW each, with 2 controllable pitch propellers, 3 side thrusters for manoeuvring and a dynamic positioning controlled by Kongsberg's K-POS2.

Anchor handling equipment consists of a triple drum winch with a Towing Drum (1560m of 76 mm wire, brake load 400T) and 2 A/H Drums (2 x 1390m of 76mm wire, brake load 430T). The vessel is also equipped with a stern roller, twin towing pins & twin Karmoy Forks, chains can be stored in 2 aft chain lockers.

During the extensive dry-docking period, the vessel was upgraded increasing accommodation from 16 to 35 crew/ officers in compliance with MLC 2006 and a new Heila 20t crane plus a ballast water treatment plant complying with IMO Ballast Water Management Convention for unrestricted international waters operation.

LENGA is based in Punta Arenas, Chile, where Ultratug has used her as an important part of the logistics chain to the Antarctic bases, in addition to her readiness for towage and salvage operations that might be required in the South America region.

Shortly after arrival at her new base at Punta Arenas, the pandemic struck but during the crisis, crews maintained her in operational condition, which allowed Ultratug to sign and perform important contracts in Chile - inspecting damaged fibre optic telephone cables along the coast and supporting the offshore installations in the Magellan Strait

Above: Ultratug operations in South America

together with anchor handling works for Chilean clients. These successful jobs also allowed for training crew to use the vessel's systems to keep her running and have sufficient activity to cover costs.

ISU welcomes the following new Associate Members:

Bridge Maritime Limited C/O Adansonia Management Services Suit 1, Perrieri Office Suites, C2-302, Level 3, Office Block C, La Croisette, Grand Baie, Mauritius

+27 82 321 3669 www.bridgemaritime.co.za

Contact: Neil Scott-Williams

Jifmar Offshore Services 20 Av. Napoleon Bonaparte, Aix-en-Provence, 13100, France

+33 6 99 93 25 56

sales@jifmar.net www.jifmar.com

Contact: Durandt De Wet CStar Consultancy B.V. Alkmaarderstraatweg 50, 1901DC Castricum, The Netherlands

+ 31 6244 666 86 st@cstarconsultancy.com Contact: Sylvia Tervoort

Antipollution S.A.

Address: 57 Akti Miaouli St. 185 36 Piraeus, Greece

+ 30 210 42 92 426

info@antipollution.com & emergencyresponse@antipollution.com www.antipollution.com Contact: Giannis Alvertos

Atlantic Uk Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Ltd. 40 Gracechurch St. 1'1 Floor Ec3v Ost London

+44 203 440 37 62 london@atlanticinsbrokers.com www.atlanticinsbrokers.com

Contact: Richard Adler and Manuel Ferrandez Perez

Sea2Cradle

Four years after the devastating MAERSK HONAM fire, the recycling and recovery of all waste from the vessel was finally completed with the receipt of the last recovery documents this year.

Sea2Cradle was involved in the Honam project from start to finish. In the first phase, they were appointed as experts for the P&I Club, overseeing the excavation and discharge of debris and waste from the burnt vessel and transport to and storage at the designated yard, as well as the cleaning of contaminated scrap and disposal of cleaned scrap.

In the second phase, they acted as owner’s representative, monitoring the segregation, transport, treatment and recovery or disposal of all remaining waste.

Sea2Cradle’s said its key objective was to “address risks at all stages of the waste management process, protecting the vessel owner from any short and longterm liabilities.”

The firm’s experts surveyed health, safety, and environmental standards and performance on a daily basis, monitored waste transport, and inspected waste treatment, recovery and disposal facilities.

It ensured compliance with all applicable local, international and EU regulations for the whole waste management process and ensured that all waste - 28,413 tonnes - was accounted for in the final waste stream reconciliation report.

European Tug Owners’ Association

The members of ETA met in Tenerife for its 59th AGM hosted by Boluda. During the four days, both the Executive Committee and the AGM delegates discussed the

current situation of the towage sector and the Association´s activities for the next year.

They also reviewed the work carried out by the Secretariat during the last year and gave the green light for the preparations of the 60th ETA Annual Meeting, which will bring the Association back to London, where it was founded in 1963.

IN TE RN AT IONAL SALVAGE UN ION