In the first quarter of 2013 Tsavliris Salvage Group was kept busy with Bulk Carrier "RBD ITALIA" (GT 47,984, DWT 87,334), laden 43.380,86 M/T of grain (sunflower seeds, soyabean meal, soya bean pellets, etc.), which grounded at KM 452, Rio Parana, in the vicinity of San Lorenzo, on Wednesday 30th January.   Our salvage master boarded casualty on the same day and refloating attempts, by using ship's engine and rudder, commenced but with no success.

Tugs "ONA DON LORENZO" and "LUCIANO B" were promptly mobilized from La Plata and Buenos Aires respectively, to the assistance of the casualty. Attempts to refloat the vessel were immediately undertaken once tugs arrived on the scene. Local company "OSRO" was engaged to provide anti-pollution services. On the same day vessel was successfully refloated and anchored at San Lorenzo roads. Both tugs remained alongside providing standby services.

On the 2nd February, mandatory post grounding inspection by the Coastguard and diving inspection on behalf of Class, were performed.  Certificate of Safe Delivery was signed and following clearance by the Authorities the vessel sailed same day. The two tugs demobilized towards Buenos Aires providing shadow escort.

Following this successful operation, on Thursday 14th February, we dispatched salvage tug "KAMARINA", from her Singapore salvage station, to the assistance of oil products tanker "MAKO" (GT 60,504, DWT 104,000), laden with about 89,000 M/T Murban crude oil, experiencing technical problems and steaming at reduced speed, about 115 nautical miles south of Sunda Straits, Indian Ocean. The casualty required tug assistance/support prior to entering the Sunda Strait.

Motor tug "SWISSCO SUPREME" was also deployed from Singapore on Monday 18th February to assist in the escort, steering or towage of "MAKO". "KAMARINA" arrived at rendezvous point on the 18th February and awaited the arrival of the second tug in order to proceed to the casualty's position.

Following instructions from "MAKO", the "KAMARINA" proceeded to the casualty's position on the 21st February and arrived the same day. Attempts were made to connect the towline, however bad weather conditions did not allow for this. On the 22nd February, tug "SWISSCO SUPREME" arrived and attempted to connect the towline at the stern of the casualty. Once again due to bad weather it was difficult to connect the towline and once connected the towline parted.

Due to improved weather conditions towlines were connected on the 25th February, i.e. "KAMARINA" connected to the bow and "SWISSCO SUPREME" connected to the stern. Convoy commenced towage to Jakarta where safely arrived on 27th February. Both tugs were released the following day - 28th February.

Tsavliris Salvage Group is currently rendering salvage services to "VARKAN MARMARA" (GRT 3,478, DWT 4,865), following engine failure off the North African coast.