Salvage Services
M/V GOLDEN SKY - Maritime Salvage
L.O.F. 15/1/2007
Tsavliris was engaged to salvage (under LOF - January 2007) the craned bulk carrier GOLDEN SKY (27.000 dwt laden with 25.000 tons of Muriate Potash (mop) in bulk which had grounded on glacial boulders off Ventspils, Latvia in hurricane force winds. Tsavliris deployed local tugs, a large number anti-pollution equipment (oil booms, skimmers etc.) and a salvage team (Salvage Masters, Salvage Engineers, riggers and divers). The extreme cold weather conditions and all the related contingencies related to sub-zero temperatures made operations extremely difficult. Equipment such as pumps and compressors failed to operate in the extreme cold (below 30C degrees) and icy surface water. Tsavliris’s priority was to act in preventing the serious possibility of pollution in a sensitive area and in combating the pollution which occured . Salvaging the casualty was considered highly unlikely, with all rival proposals focusing on a wreck removal in the spring. Many other salvage experts submitted that the sub-zero weather conditions would make it impossible to free the ship. Tsavliris Salvage successfully removed all fuels and lubricants and refloated the bulk carrier Golden Sky after restoration of sufficient buoyancy by discharge of about 9.000tonnes of cargo. Helicopters were deployed for transportation of both personnel and equipment. Cargo was transhipped into barges which were towed to Hull, UK to buyers. The vessel refloated “just in the nick of time” before the area was slammed by 60-knot winds that might have caused it to break up. The vessel was towed to port of Ventspils (as port of refuge) due to bad weather conditions and berthed alongside. Tsavliris operations lasted four months and Golden Sky was safely delivered to her owner.
