SALVAGE ROUND-UP

This month we look at recent activities for salvage contractors based in the Netherlands and Bangladesh, both members of the International Salvage Union

A previous salvage round-up focused on smaller regional salvors (MJ October 2022) including Prantik Bengal Salvage and Diving, and following its work assisting a container vessel involved in a collision has refloated a barge aground in an ecological hot spot.

The empty 100m long, 4,200gt dumb barge MR 3322 was under tow from Chittagong to Malaysia when the tow line parted during a cyclonic storm. The barge grounded on a small island adjoining St Martin’s Island in the north eastern part of the Bay of Bengal, the grounding site separated from the main island at high tide.

Prantik was engaged on a no cure no pay contract on the basis of no environmental damage or disturbance to the underwater ecosystem, which included coral-rich areas, mangroves, lagoons and rocky areas.

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

Two salvage barges and a tug, along with Prantik’s managing director, who is a salvage master, and 60 personnel were mobilised to the site along with 23 air balloons, each 18m in length, 1.5m diameter and 176KN/m load bearing capacity. Once clear of the ground, one salvage barge pulled the stranded vessel from aft, the other positioned forwards helping to stop it gaining momentum while being pulled.

By adjusting the air balloons, the barge was rotated to align it with the marked channel for safe launching and refloating, which was achieved with “minimal to zero damage to the environment”.

Smit Salvage

Smit Salvage is part of the giant Boskalis group, which in 2022 was taken over by HAL Holding N.V. Its report of activities in just the last quarter of that year illustrates not only the diverse nature of the work marine salvage companies are contracted to carry out, but the complexities involved in developing a solution, often lasting for extended periods and continuing long after the story has moved off the global front pages.

The ever-present requirement to protect the environment is a theme that touches on virtually every salvage operation, be it a relatively straightforward rescue tow, vessel grounding or fire, and, even further away from the front pages, wreck removal projects.

Looking at the requirements for Smit’s expertise around the Arabian Peninsula region, the Papendrecht-based company mobilised several tugs, a fire-fighting team and environmental protection specialists to assist a container vessel in the Red Sea.

Meanwhile, in the Persian Gulf a ship-to-ship lightering operation was called for when a fully laden bulk carrier ran aground. Following cargo transfer the vessel was safely refloated.

Outside the region a particularly complex operation for Smit followed a request by an oil and gas operator to stabilise a floating production unit off West Africa. After completing an assessment, Smit supported the development of an accelerated decommissioning plan involving disconnection of the vessel from its moorings, towage to a sheltered location and reconnection to a temporary mooring system.

A technique salvors often require in their repertoire when refloating grounded casualties or righting vessels that have capsized and run aground is the laying of complex ground tackle spreads, often to anchor pull barges that provide the muscle to refloat or right the stricken vessel.

Smit has such expertise backed by parent company Boskalis’s experience with laying anchors for rigs and other offshore vessels. The installation of an eight-leg mooring system was completed with the assistance of Boskalis Marine Services, which was responsible for the environmental criteria and mooring analysis for the new system.

Illustrating the longevity of such activities, Smit will continue to provide support during 2023 while executing preparations for eventual disposal of the production unit.

Moving to Indian waters, work is ongoing for Smit on two simultaneous wreck removal projects offshore Mumbai.

Working with salvage company Koole Contractors (another Dutch salvage company) along with local Indian alliance partner Vishwakarma and with a large spread of marine assets from Boskalis Marine Services and locally chartered assets, the wrecks are being cut into pieces and recovered with grabs onto barges for environmentally friendly disposal onshore.

Both of these projects are also expected to run into the first part of 2023.

Cummins has provided interesting background to what is a common shipyard procedure, extending a vessel’s life by replacing its engines.

Unlike cargo vessels, for example, tugs and workboats are expected to lead a long and profitable life. Changing trade patterns and efficiency challenges can see many cargo vessels reach their ‘best before’ date sooner than tugs, which are traditionally built to high specifications reflecting the often arduous nature of their work.