By recommendation and after receiving approval from the Underwriters, through their technical consultants, VMAX Marine Salvage Consultancy was engaged by Owners to attend to a 91500 MT dead-weight Bulker Carrier with an LOA of 250m and Beam of 43m in Northern Africa, that had experienced a catastrophic engine room explosion, resulting with the sad demise of 8 crew members and injuring 2 crew members severely. Due to the explosion, the casualty had lost all form of power onboard with the remaining 17 crew members.
VMAX’s Salvage consultant assembled and mobilized a 7-man team comprising a Salvage Master, Salvage engineers, and Salvage divers/riggers, and formulated a Salvage Plan.
VMAX ‘s Salvage Consultant acted as an on-site representative on behalf of the Owners, the Salvage Plan was presented and approved by the local authorities, It encompasses relieving the entire crew onboard and the Salvage Team taking over the casualty and preparing the casualty in all respects for an 1800nm tow to recycling facility in the Meditererian for a safe delivery, with the team remaining onboard.
The following was executed;
- Jury Rigging power cables from the Emergency Generator to the onboard hydraulic pump to run deck winches/anchor windless
- Stabilizing and locking the Rudder Unit
- Locking the Propeller Shaft
- Temporary Patching of the side-shell plating
- Formulated and prepared the towing arrangement
- Connecting and Disconnecting Tow Procedure
- Recovering and Releasing the Anchor Procedure with Towing Tug Assistance
The casualty was towed with a 90Ton Bollard Pull Robert Allen Design AZD Tug achieving an average speed of 5knts, the VMAX team supervised the de-bunkering of the casualty, in Malta, while the towing tug was replenishing bunkers for onward passage.
Upon receiving final approval from the Owners, the casualty was delivered safely for recycling on the 28TH Aug 2024, with the team disembarking.
The entire salvage operation was “Bespoke” receiving Class and COA approval for the Owners, resonating with a cost-effective solution without compromising safety or having any operational failures throughout.
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