INTERNATIONAL SALVAGE UNION
December 2023
"Insurers need salvors; salvors need insurers" ISU Members and Associates were well represented at the annual Salvage and Wreck Conference organised by Seatrade Maritime with ISU as a supporting organisation. ISU President, John Witte, gave the opening address in which he set out the current state of the industry and noted the gulf in income between the insurers and the salvors (below right). He also pointed out the importance of salvor's being left to get on with the job using their expertise to prevent disasters without unnecessary influence from shore-based advisors. Mr Witte also emphasised that the Salvage Convention and Article 13 awards must remain the cornerstone of the industry to retain the concept of the professional salvor available to deal with all kinds of incidents around the world. ESG considerations were again at the forefront of the conference content and the insurers recognised the importance of the salvage industry. Jenna Hales from Hiscox said: “insurers need salvors and salvors need insurers so there is much common ground”. There is the possibility of the London Joint Marine Claims Committee introducing a default clause requiring the use of Lloyd's Open Form but that initiative is not yet concluded. John Witte described the US OPA 90 system and said it was unlikely to work internationally because it was based on the requirement for existing relationships
between owners and salvors. Nina Hanevold-Sandvik from Skuld described the importance of ESG credentials – both in the screening of would-be contractors and in preparing reports on ESG performance at the end of an operation. She said they were still trying to establish a baseline and that vetting the supply chain was not unique to the salvage and insurance industry and is now common in business. Grant Hunter from BIMCO and Richard Janssen outlined the changes that have been agreed to the popular BIMCO Wreckstage contract which is nearly finished and ready for publication. Seperately, Smit Salvage described the work to stabilise the FSO SAFER off Yemen and remove the crude oil which was on board.
the ever present worry when responding whether the salvor would be criminalised. She also emphasised the importance of being paid and encouraged “to go out and respond”. Future fuels and innovation in tugs and firefighting was discussed and Gary Dockerty from tug builder Sanmar noted that in future “tugs of opportunity” - if electric or hybrid - are unlikely to be able to undertake salvage and firefighting as they will not have the endurance and capability required to operate at, or near, full power for very long. And today many tugs are not commissioned with fire fighting capability as it requires substantial additional power to drive the FiFi monitor pumps and increases prices.
The Allianz Safety and Shipping Review was presented to the conference and a 36 per cent reduction in casualties was recorded in the past ten years. The South China Sea, Indonesia and the Philippines remain “hot spots”. Looking ahead, fire continues to be a major concern. There have been 64 losses in the last five years from this cause. A panel addressed salvor’s liability and criminalisation. Eline Muller, chair of the ISU salvage sub-Committee and a director at Multraship, described the case of the FREEMANTLE HIGHWAY and
IMO Bravery Award 2023 Caleb Halle, Aviation Survival Technician Second Class of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), based at the Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, received the 2023 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea, for his outstanding courage, endurance and determination shown during the rescue of the seven-strong crew of the tugboat LEGACY in January 2023.
LEGACY was towing a barge when its tow lines snapped in strong winds and heavy swells. The vessel and its crew of seven were adrift in violent rolling seas, 35 nm off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland, US. After several unsuccessful rescue attempts by a USCG cutter, a helicopter rescue team was dispatched. The helicopter crew attempted a hoist
operation from the stern of LEGACY. In hugely challenging circumstances, AST2 Halle was able to help three survivors to be recovered. Running low on fuel, the helicopter had to depart the scene. But AST2 Halle volunteered to remain on board to reassure the four remaining tugboat crew and to assist a relief Coast Guard helicopter when it arrived. Continued next page
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IMO Bravery Award continued A new helicopter returned as darkness was falling. Communications between AST2 Halle and the helicopter were lost as it approached but its swimmer and Mr Halle were able eventually to assist the four remaining tugboat crew to safety from the violently pitching main deck of the tugboat. AST2 Halle conducted a final search inside LEGACY to ensure no one was left behind. A large wave hit the boat and at this point the water-tight seal of his survival suit was damaged. As the two rescue swimmers were about to be hoisted off the tugboat, it suddenly pitched violently upwards, throwing them both into the freezing and turbulent water, close to the tugboat propellors. AST2 Halle's survival suit was beginning to flood. The situation was critical, but once the helicopter was able to regain position, both rescue swimmers were finally winched from the sea. The Panel of Judges - including ISU past President, Charo Coll - agreed that, throughout the operation, AST2 Caleb Halle clearly demonstrated exceptional bravery and determination, despite the extreme conditions and the complexities of a multi-unit rescue, coupled with communications failures.
2023 IMO Bravery Award Winner AST2 Halle, USCG, is congratulated by Charo Coll, ISU past President and award judge.
Nippon Salvage - coral reef operation In early 2023 XIN HAI ZHOU 2 - 8,461 gross tonnes - grounded on a coral reef in a national park off Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan. Nippon Salvage was contracted for an inspection and bunker removal by the P&I club. Nippon’s salvage tug KOYO MARU - 2,474 gross tonnes and 10,000BHP - was swiftly dispatched with a salvage team and equipment. After mobilising the necessary assets, the bulker was safely connected to KOYO MARU and a locally sourced barge and bunker removal was completed. At the end of June, Nippon was also contracted to remove the wreck and the operation is continuing with care to prevent further damage to the environment. Nippon said it is in “close communication” with competent authorities and local communities and continues working towards the complete removal of the wreck in the “challenging area” which is not only the biggest coral reef habitat in Japan but is also affected by seasonal wind and typhoons. 2
ISU News ISU Associate Members' Day 2024 The ISU Associate Members’ Day Conference will be held on Wednesday 20 March 2024. The popular event will be held in a new venue, Landing Forty Two, the Leadenhall Building in the City of London, opposite the Lloyd's building. The event will be preceded by the Annual Dinner on 19 March 2024 at Trinity House in London. Invitations for both events will be issued in the New Year. ISU Annual General Meeting 2024 The ISU AGM 2024 and associate events will be held 11-13 September 2024 in Istanbul, hosted by ISU Member, Aras. The AGM and associated events will follow the now-established format of an Executive Committee meeting, local visits and an Opening Reception on Wednesday 11 September, the AGM on Thursday 12 September followed in the evening by a Gala Dinner and other activities and visits the day after the AGM, Friday 13 September. Full details will be issued in Q1 2024 but members are advised to note the date and that there will
be requirement to confirm room bookings earlier than usual to ensure best prices are available. Statistics The ISU will launch its two annual statistics surveys in the New Year: the general Salvage Industry Statistics and the Pollution Prevention Statistics. ISU members will be contacted directly with the call to participate and it is a requirement to submit the information which is handled confidentially, in the case of the general statistics, by a third party, accountants BDO. It means confidentiality is guaranteed and only aggregated numbers are published. ISU Secretary General, James Herbert said: “Performance in submission of statistics has been variable and we are looking forward next year to an excellent response from members. These are the only statistics about the state of the industry to be published and are therefore very important. The Pollution Prevention Statistics are also central to our work
in promoting the value of our industry and the role that our members play in preventing environmental disasters. Please do respond to the survey.” Lloyd’s ISU participated fully, along with many industry partners, in the workgroups considering how best to re-invigorate the Lloyd’s Open Form salvage contract. The work concluded in June and Lloyd’s is expected to announce a number of initiatives. These will include a revised Fixed Cost Arbitration Procedure under which many more LOF arbitrations are likely to be handled as Fast Track Paper Only arbitrations. Contractors and owners will also be expected to submit, confidentially for aggregated publication, data about settled cases and also for each LOF there will be a requirement for parties to supply data relating to the Environmental, Social and Governance aspects of the case. Lloyd's will issue further details explaining the new requirements.
Harbor Star oil spill cleanup in The Philippines In what it called a “remarkable display of teamwork and dedication”, ISU member, Harbor Star Shipping Services, Inc., collaborated with international contractor Le Floc De Pollution to lead the successful shoreline cleanup response in Oriental Mindoro, Semirara, and Liwagao following a devastating oil spill caused by the sinking MV PRINCESS EMPRESS in February. The operation involved the participation of nearly one thousand local volunteers and resulted in the collection of a 576 cubic meters of solid contaminated waste. Harbor Star said the oil spill response, which was conducted in close coordination with the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) to ensure compliance with international and local standards, “stands as a testament to the commitment and expertise of contractors.” The incident left the picturesque coastal areas heavily impacted by the spill and the cleanup effort involved a comprehensive approach that prioritised the safety of both the environment and the volunteers (above right). Stringent protocols
were implemented to minimise further damage and efficiently remove the oilcontaminated waste. The involvement of local volunteers, working hand-in-hand with Harbor Star, played a crucial role in the operation's success. Harbor Star said: “Their tireless efforts and dedication to restoring their beloved shoreline were instrumental in achieving the remarkable outcome. These selfless individuals showcased the true spirit of community and environmental stewardship.” The huge amount of solid contaminated waste collected underscores the magnitude of the oil spill and the major effort required to dela with it. A meticulous planning process and advanced techniques mean that Harbor Star identified every piece of contaminated waste, collected it and properly disposed of it, leaving no trace (below right). The company said it “demonstrated its commitment to the community and the environment” and that its expertise was “invaluable in navigating the challenges posed by the oil spill. Its dedication to upholding the highest standards in environmental responsibility was evident 3
throughout the operation. “The successful cleanup operation restored the affected areas and served as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and collaboration in mitigating the impacts of such incidents. Harbor Star Shipping Services, Inc. remain committed to their roles, working diligently to prevent future oil spills and protect our precious coastlines.”
Smit in action around the world In October the passenger/Ro-Ro Ship MARCO POLO ran aground on a rocky seabed some 5 nm off the coast of Sweden near Karlshamn. The vessel was carrying passengers and trucks and due to the severity of the incident and an initial reported oil spill the passengers were evacuated by the Swedish Coast Guard. A Smit team was mobilised and following inspections performed by the team and the Coast Guard, it was concluded that the vessel had sustained extensive damage to the hull. Several tanks were breached and oil leakage was confirmed to be coming from the vessel’s bunker tanks. The Coast Guard had installed two oil booms and several patrol boats were on standby in the vicinity of the casualty. The Smit team made extensive preparations inside the vessel to enable an effective refloating operation. Meanwhile, tugs, a dive support vessel and oil receiving vessels came on site, after which some of the bunkers were taken off prior to the arrival of an approaching severe storm which pushed the vessel towards a different grounding location, complicating the situation. The salvage team managed to successfully pressurise the breached tanks and the Smit team working with local resources safely refloated the casualty and brought her to a nearby anchorage 10 days after the incident. After a follow up dive inspection at the anchorage, and because of further incoming bad weather, the vessel was brought into the port of Karlshamn. The entire cargo was offloaded and the remaining accessible bunker oil and other pollutants were pumped to the receiving vessel and to shore facilities. The final phase of the project consisted of towing the damaged vessel to drydock in Gdansk. The BATAVIA EXPRESS, a bulk carrier transporting wood pulp bales from Brazil to China, experienced a fire in its Cargo Hold 1 during the passage. The vessel diverted to Cape Town, where the crew and local firefighters attempted unsuccessfully to extinguish the fire. Subsequently, the vessel owners engaged Smit Salvage for assistance. After receiving approval from local authorities,
the BATAVIA EXPRESS was brought into the Port of Cape Town and measures were taken to inert the affected cargo hold using CO² and a portable Inert Gas Generator. The adjacent cargo holds had their sound cargo discharged and stored in a warehouse for later backloading. Cargo Hold 1 was then opened, and a combination of an “orange peel grab” and bale cargo spreader, along with fire suppression measures, were used to remove the affected cargo (above). Depending on its condition, the cargo was either sent to a certified waste disposal site or to the designated salvage buyers' warehouse. After clearing Cargo Hold 1 of its 7,628 tonnes of cargo, the hold was cleaned, and efforts were made to backload all sound cargo for the vessel to resume its journey to China.
chemical tanker was towed to Jeddah. All the towages were executed under the close supervision and guidance of Smit’s Salvage masters and naval architects. In Trinidad &nd Tobago, Smit recently recovered the bow leg of a jack-up rig after it had to be cut from the rig last year during an emergency situation leaving the cut leg on the seabed, but freeing the rig.
During the last quarter of the 2024 Smit Salvage also carried out five emergency tows of disabled vessels. In the North Sea during a severe autumn storm a semi-submersible heavy lift vessel was secured in challenging circumstances and safely brought to Rotterdam by one of the powerful Boskalis tugs.
After the necessary preparations of the leg and waiting for a suitable seastate and weather window, the Taklift 4 had to be demobilised for another commitment. Determining that the best alternative asset for the recovery was the Boskalis operated 3,000 tonnes Crane Vessel Bokalift 1, a specially designed lifting frame had to be fabricated.
Off Taiwan a drifting LNG carrier was towed to OPL Kaohsiung for emergency repairs. In the South China Sea a Boskalis tug brought a drifting container vessel to the safe anchorage of Singapore and an LNG carrier was brought into port in Australia and will subsequently be towed to Hong Kong and in the Red Sea a
The leg was standing vertically with the spud-can still 12 meters deep in the seabed and after 24 hours of pulling and jetting the leg was freed (above). The jack-up rig had been transported earlier by a Boskalis heavy transport vessel and the leg and rig were reunited in dry dock in early December.
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Members' and Associate’s News Resolve Marine Captain Nick Sloane will retire from Resolve Marine at the end of December 2023. He is also immediate past President of ISU and has also retired from the ISU Executive Committee after eight years of service. Nick Sloane has had a 40 year-career starting with the South African Merchant Shipping Company, SAFMARIN and transferring to their salvage division in 1983. The company was bought by Smit in 1997. Thereafter he worked for Svitzer Salvage and joined Resolve Marine in 2015 as Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East and worked on projects in the Philippines, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia, Chile, the Mediterranean and around Africa. He was also deployed on emergency response for hurricane relief in the Caribbean over the years. Commenting on Captain Sloane’s retirement, Joseph Farrell III, DeputyCEO and COO said, “Nick's deep understanding of the complex facets of salvage operations has been invaluable. He has "seen it all" and his ability to pinpoint the subtleties that determine the success or failure of a salvage job both operationally and commercially has made his leadership both at Resolve Marine and the ISU incredibly impactful. It has always been a privilege working with him.” Captain Sloane has been appointed to the panel of Lloyd’s Special Casualty Representatives to start in the New Year. Tsavliris In October Tsavliris assisted with the towage of the Passenger/Cruise Ship "QUEEN of the OCEANS" - 77,500 gross tonnes - with two of their Patras-based tugboats, PROTEAS - BHP 3,200 and 45 tonnes BP - and HERMES - BHP 2,725 and 43 tonnes BP. Towage commenced from Patras Port to Platygiali terminal, Astakos Port, Greece.
In corporate news, the Tsavliris Cultural Foundation is offering a full scholarship "In Memory of Alexander G. Tsavliris" to
commemorate the 50 years since the passing of the Group’s Founder. It is a merit-based scholarship for an undergraduate degree in shipping, in Greece and amounts to €12,000. The scholarship was announced during an event at the main offices of Tsavliris Salvage, in Piraeus (picture below). It is offered by Nicolas, George and Andreas Tsavliris, the three sons of the founder of the Group, through the Tsavliris Cultural Foundation. Applications are open and the Scholarship winner will be announced during Posidonia events in June 2024. For more information www.tsavliris.com
main office for the Asian region is located in Singapore which oversees smaller branches in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Yokohama and Seoul. Roll Group also work with various agencies based in strategic locations across the globe and its nine vessels are frequently used in salvage operations. For example assisting with a damaged navy corvette and an expedition cruise ship (below).
Seacontractors
Tsavliris Cultural Foundation was established in 2015 to commemorate 100 years from the birth of the founding father of the Tsavliris Group, Alexander G. Tsavliris. The aim of the Foundation is to support and promote education, culture and the arts.
Seacontractors has announced additions to its fleet with the acquisition of two Anchor Handling Tugs, SERAYA and SENTOSA each with 120 tonnes bollard pull. Both vessels are have dedicated and experienced crew, accommodation on board is provided for 24 persons and they have fully integrated FiF systems to enhance their emergency response capabilities.
The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Greek Branch held its 18th Annual Forum. The title was: "Shipping 2024: sailing with wisdom". Mr Nicolas A. Tsavliris, FICS, Chairman of the ICS Greek Branch and Tsavliris Salvage Group welcomed the attendees of the Forum. Emphasising the importance of wisdom in the shipping industry, the Chairman reflected on the ICS role in navigating both industry challenges and global crises. Roll Dock Roll Group has updated its corporate profile and reports that it owns and operates a wide range of land-based equipment and vessels to complete “some of the most demanding” heavy lifting and specialist transport projects. Its head office is located in Capelle aanden IJssel, The Netherlands, and along with two smaller hubs in Sassenheim and Breda it oversees Roll Group operations worldwide. Their presence in the USA is managed from its operational facility in Dayton, Texas. The 5
They are designed for multi-purpose operations and Seacontractors says they have “exceptional towing characteristics and their versatility allows them to be deployed worldwide for various tasks, including single and double towing, pushing, anchor handling, anchor recovery, rig move assistance, salvage support, wreck removal, escorting, and deck and cargo transportation.” Seacontractors has a diverse fleet of over 25 Anchor Handling Tugs (AHT) and MultiPurpose Vessels. Recent operations include the SEA VANQUISH towing the WILSON SKAW from Iceland to Norway after she had grounded with only minor damage carrying a cargo of salt. The hull suffered only minor damage, and no leakage Continued next page
Members' and Associate’s News continued occurred. Elsewhere the DIAN KINGDOM, guided by the salvage master, refloated the bulker DEFENDER near Kalundborg, Denmark while laden with a substantial 10,000 tonnes of cargo.
Minnitt who joins Solis Marine as a Master Mariner/Marine Consultant based in Singapore he is coming ashore after 33 years at sea including 15 years of command experience.
Shipowners' Club
Waves group
ISU Salvage sub-Committee Chair, Eline Muller, co-owner and a senior executive of the Club’s longstanding Member, Multraship based in Terneuzen in The Netherlands with a fleet providing harbour and terminal towage, sea towage, support to the offshore energy and marine infrastructure industries and emergency response salvage. Siana Surya, President Director of the Club’s longstanding Member, PT Berlian Laju Tankers based in Indonesia. Simon Swallow, the recently retired Chief Executive of the Association’s management company, The Shipowners’ Protection Limited. Solis Solis Marine Engineering won the Excellence in Marine Innovation Award during the National Maritime SME Awards 2023 held during London International Shipping Week 2023. Simon Hindley, Managing Director of Solis Marine Engineering, said: ‘We are very proud to have been recognised for our work in clean shipping.”
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has secured its next emergency response vessel to patrol and protect the Great Barrier Reef and the Torres Strait. Smit Lamnalco, has been awarded a 10 year contract worth AS $196 million for AMSA’s first response emergency towage capability.
The Shipowners’ Club, the leading P&I insurer in the smaller and specialist vessel sector, has announced the appointment of four new directors to its Board, effective from the Club’s Board meeting in March 2024. The new directors are Mark Ko, the Executive Director of the Club’s longstanding Member, Tian San Shipping, based in Singapore.
AMSA
The vessel and its crew are tasked with protecting these precious marine environments and global shipping routes from pollution and rescuing seafarers in distress. Waves Group announced the appointment of Captain Stanislav Ivanov as Vice President of the Houston office. He is one of the lead Consultant Master Mariners in Waves Group and a recognised expert within the casualty, insurance, shipping and offshore energy industries. He will be responsible for the coordination and development of operations in the Americas. His portfolio includes the investigation of marine casualties, client’s representative on salvage and wreck removal projects and providing expert opinion on charter party disputes and cargo claims. With a Class 1 Master Mariner certification and 28 years in the shipping industry, Captain Ivanov's expertise covers a wide area: the investigation of major marine incidents, including container vessel stow collapses, cargo losses, collisions, groundings and fires.
And Solis Marine Group LLP has welcomed Captain Mike Melly to the global team as Marine Consultant based in Durban, South Africa. Mr Melly has more than 45 years experience of the marine industry and Solis said that with their growing presence in Southeast Asia, China, Europe and the United Kingdom they are “excited to be able to expand our services into Southern Africa.” Additionally the firm says it is “expanding its technical knowledge and expertise” with the appointment of Captain Neil 6
Smit Lamnalco will deliver a bigger, more powerful, faster and more fuel-efficient towage vessel than AMSA’s current vessel, the CORAL KNIGHT, which comes to the end of its contract in June 2024. The new vessel (image below) will have greater bollard pull than the Coral Knight (120 tonnes versus 82 tonnes) to address the rising threat of maritime casualties involving ships of unprecedented size and greater top speed. The new vessel will also be more fuel efficient with a hybrid propulsion system. And there is the possibility of use of methanol as an alternative future fuel source. The new vessel will be built over the next two years and delivered for service in mid2026. Smit Lamnalco has committed to an interim capability which also exceeds AMSA’s current capability in both bollard pull and top speed.
Multraship - North Sea and inland waterway operations In November, Multraship successfully freed the stranded tugboat OCEAAN II from the beach at Zandvoort, on the Dutch Coast. The tug found itself in a challenging situation while attempting to assist the grounded fishing vessel YM22 and ended up grounded high on the beach itself. With the assistance of Koole Contractors and the KNRM Lifeboat Association, Multraship managed to connect MULTRATUG 18 to the OCEAAN II with a 1500 metre length of Dyneema, while digging a channel during low tide. At high tide MULTRATUG 18 succeeded in refloating OCEAAN II and got her back to the open sea. Multraship said it was an operation “characterised by unprecedented skill and teamwork displayed by the salvage team.” Also in November a storm passed over the North Sea and River Scheldt keeping the Multraship Salvage teams busy. The pilot boarding vessel PERSEUS suffered from complete black out and was immobilised off the Dutch Coast near Westkapelle, drifting in heavy seas.
Above: Channel dug to assist refloating of beached tug OCEAAN II
pumped out. Provisional repairs and reinforcements were then made to the hull to provide sufficient buoyancy, limit further damage and prepare the damaged hull for transport. The JOGO 4 could finally be towed by the MULTRATUG 22 and MULTRATUG 5 to shipyard de Schroef in Sluiskil and she was redelivered.
After demobilisation of the equipment, the Upper Scheldt was again navigable in both directions and the blockage was lifted. Multraship said the salvage operation was carried out in “good cooperation” with the Flemish Waterway and owner and insurers of the JOGO 4.
The crew was evacuated with the help of the Coastguard’s SAR Helicopter. MULTRATUG 19 got a team on board and made a connection and brought her under control. Later, assisted by MULTRATUG 32 and MULTRASALVOR 3, the tugs brought the vessel safely into Flushing. The same day the tanker TORM LOKE needed salvage assistance after strong gusts of wind caused her to come loose from the mooring buoys in Flushing Sloe Harbour. Six tugs responded and brought the vessel under control. In December, Multraship, together with LM Diving Service, successfully lifted the barge JOGO 4, which sank in the Upper Scheldt. The busy waterway between Oudenaarde and Ghent became blocked after the vessel suddenly folded and sank. Only the stern remained partially above water. Fuel was pumped out of the vessel and the cargo of 1,100 tonnes of limestone was discharged. Two salvage pontoons were then positioned on either side of the JOGO 4, equipped with winches to which lifting slings were attached. The vessel could then be lifted and water
Above: JOGO 4 seen sunken in the middle of the Upper Scheldt - the waterway linking Oudenaarde and Ghent. Below: pontoons either side of the casualty which has been lifted with slings and winches.
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Detek - underwater repairs and refloating operation In March in Yazici Port in Iskenderun, Turkey, M/V MORAZ began to drift towards rocks because of stormy weather conditions. The vessel’s engine room plating was damaged and water began to flow in. In August, the owners commissioned refloating work and Detek divers surveyed the damaged areas. The vessel was grounded on a stoney bottom and the rudder was embedded and there was water in the engine room up to the level of the main engine. In consultation with owners and authorities works were carried out to prevent water inflow to the rudder room of the ship with sheet metal sealing and welding works around the rudder shaft. The damaged engine room sides were cut away with underwater cutting equipment and new sheet plates prepared on the diving vessel and installed by divers using underwater mounting and welding
equipment. The assembled parts were completely welded to the hull of the ship with permanent welding, using underwater welding electrodes and underwater welding equipment by the diver and water tightness was ensured.
environmental precautions in place, the sea
With the necessary safety and
safely towed away by tugs.
water in the engine room was discharged to bilge level with submersible pumps. All three holds of the ship were checked and found to be dry and after some two months of operations the ship was refloated and
Boluda Towage - jack-up and floating turbine tows In October, Boluda Towage assisted the jack-up unit SEAFOX from the North Sea to Wiltonhaven in Rotterdam. Boluda Offshore tug VB BEVER safely performed the rig move on the North Sea. and after arriving at Maas Entrance, the convoy was assisted by Boluda Towage’s VB EXPLORER and VB STERLING. Together with VB THAMESBANK they also assisted the jack-up unit during its positioning the berth (picture right, below). Elsewhere and earlier in the year, Boluda Towage assisted the first float of the Provence Grand Large (PGL) floating offshore wind farm from Marseille in May 2023 in what is a milestone in the development of floating offshore wind in France. Three tugs from Boluda Towage’s Marseille fleet were deployed for what the firm said were “substantial and highly technical operations.” In September the first floating wind turbine of the PGL project was also towed by Boluda Towage (France) from the port of Marseille-FOS (picture right, above) to the installation site at sea more than 17km from the coast. It will be joined by two further turbines.
Picrture above courtesy: SBM Offshore / Franck Delmas / EDF Renouvelables
Picture courtesy: ShipShot
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Raul y Negro Parana River barge job In September, the barge IMPERIAL 318 loaded with 3000 tonnes of iron ore, suffered damage due to impact with the bank at Km 483 on the Parana River in Argentina. Raul y Negro was engaged and performed complex underwater repairs under NKK class standards to restore buoyancy without removing the cargo on board. An anchor field was deployed and along with calculations and fabrication of structures and with assistance from the Pontoon Grua 255 and tugs and the operation was successfully completed.
Resolve Marine international operations Resolve Marine was engaged by owners and underwriters to assist in the righting operation of the S/V EUROPA, which partially rolled over while being transported for launch in Cape Town, South Africa. Resolve Marine used a modular portal frame and strand jacks to right the vessel then shift her laterally back into alignment and onto the track system. Elsewhere, a bulk carrier laden with bauxite struck an uncharted rock in the Banda Sea resulting in several ballast tanks being breached. Her owners immediately engaged Resolve Marine
to conduct a dive survey, determine the extent of damage and develop a salvage plan. A salvage team and portable salvage equipment were mobilised from Resolve’s base in Singapore. Temporary repairs were conducted followed by a partial lightering of the cargo before the vessel sailed for the repair yard. Closer to Resolve’s Florida home, in August, it was contracted to conduct the wreck removal of a pusher tug that sank 2.5 miles offshore Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Resolve’s salvage barge, RMG 1000, mobilised to the site and the tug was refloated and redelivered less than one week after arriving on site.
Outstanding Acheivement Award 2023 At the recent Salvage and Wreck Conference (see P1) the Outstanding Acheivement Award was given to J Arnold Witte Jr. who was unable to travel and his son, ISU President, John Witte, collected the award on his behalf and paid tribute to his father. Arnold Witte planned and executed hundreds of salvage operations in his 55 years of service to the marine community and is a globally recognised expert in this field. From his teenaged years, and during his education, Mr Witte had worked as
salvage assistant on salvage and wreck removal and vessel demolition for Witte Marine Equipment Co., Inc., Staten Island, NY. In 1967 he founded Donjon Marine Co., Inc., which, under his ownership and direction, grew from a regional salvage services provider to an internationally recognised and respected marine salvage and related services organization. Donjon has held the contract for international salvage for the US Navy for more than 40 years. Before founding Donjon, Mr Witte had qualified as a lawyer and practiced admiralty law from 1963-1967 as an associate at Dow and Stonebridge, New York working on cases in shipping, marine personal injury, collision, salvage and contracts of sale. Mr Witte served twice as President of the ISU and was the President and a founding member of the American Salvage Association. In addition, he was a 9
member of the Board of Directors for the American Club (IG P&I member) and also later served with distinction as Chairman of the Board. And he has been an active member of the Salvage Committee of the U.S. Maritime Law Association. At the same ceremony the Lloyd’s Appeal Arbitrator, Jeremy Russell KC, was given the Lifetime Achievement award for more than 40 years’ service to the industry.
INTERNATIONAL SALVAGE UNION Salvage World is produced by the International Salvage Union. Email: ISU@marine-salvage.com