TSAVLIRIS SALVAGE GROUP - News & Announcements
Collision of BC "KIVELI" and BC "AFINA I" - 2021 Mar 28
On 13 March 2021, the Bulk Carriers "AFINA I" (GT 8,887 – DWT 12,824) and "KIVELI" (GT 22,115 – DWT 38,191), collided in a T-shape, 9,8 miles NW of Kythira island, Greece.
The BC "KIVELI" was on a voyage from Casablanca, Morocco to Varna, Bulgaria, laden with 36,100 tonnes of Khouribga Rock Phosphate while the BC "AFINA I" was on a voyage from Novorossiysk, Russia to Bilbao, Spain, laden with 12,069 tonnes of Hot Briquetted Iron.
On 13 March, Tsavliris were contracted under LOF by the owners of the BC "KIVELI" to provide salvage assistance and unlock the two casualties.
Tsavliris mustered a fleet of tugs and deployed all necessary facilities, divers and salvage personnel to undertake the task.
On 14 March, the vessels were moved by tugs in locked condition to Vatika Bay, off Elafonisos island, Peloponnese in order to be separated safely.
On 28 March, the vessels were successfully separated without any environmental pollution. The BC "KIVELI" anchored safely at Vatika Bay with the assistance of tugs.
During the following six weeks a major salvage operation ensued with spells of bad weather, involving the moving and re-anchoring the vessels in Vatika Bay.
Services included cutting away (by divers) protruding bottom plates, an STS operation offloading her cargo into the M/V ''GREAT VANGUARD'', followed by a towage to Piraeus.