TSAVLIRIS' buoyant activity for 2014 has continued through the 3rd quarter with two further LOF's, namely container vessel "CRILLON" and most recently bulk carrier "INCE INEBOLU" as well as towage services to bulk carrier "GOLDENSTAR".  Moreover, as we go to press, TSAVLIRIS has been appointed to carry out salvage services to passenger vessel "EUROPALINK" which had struck rocks north east of Corfu Island, Ionian Sea, Greece.

Bulk Carrier "GOLDENSTAR"

On 13th August 2014, M/V "GOLDENSTAR" (28,400 DWT, 16,700 GT) laden with 35,000 tons of imodium phosphate, disabled having suffered rudder damage in Suez Canal.  TSAVLIRIS mobilized salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" (640 GT, 73 BP) from her Piraeus salvage station, towed the casualty safely from Port Said to Piraeus - arrived on 25th August 2014.

Container Vessel "CRILLON"

On the 5th September 2014, container vessel "CRILLON" (24,300 DWT, 16,700 GT), partly laden with containers, immobilized about 100 miles south of Limassol, Cyprus.  TSAVLIRIS dispatched T/B PEGASUS (332 GT, 35 BP) from Limassol together with two in-house technicians.  The casualty was towed from her position to Limassol for repairs and subsequently berthed on 14th September when services terminated.

Bulk Carrier "INCE INEBOLU"

On 5 Sept, bulk carrier "INCE INEBOLU" (30,010 GT, 52,380 DWT) in ballast, with about 1,500 tons of bunkers on board, grounded on rocks at south-eastern Astypalaia Island, Aegean Sea, Greece during a voyage, from Hodeidah, Yemen to Novorossiysk, Russia.

TSAVLIRIS dispatched S/T "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" (640 GT, 73 BP) from Piraeus with salvage team and the necessary salvage and anti-pollution equipment. Oil recovery/rescue vessel "AEGIS 1" (1400GRT, 1900 DWT) also mobilised to the site.

On the 6th September, members of the team commenced inspection on board the casualty, whilst divers assessed the underwater damage.  The grounding had caused significant indentations, cracks and had ripped the plating from the forward end of the bulbous bow up to midway through cargo hold no 1, flooding it in the process. Moreover, rocks penetrated the forward part of the same hold's tanktop.

Following the transfer of roughly 800m/t of bunkers from fuel oil tanks (FOT) numbers 1 and 5, to FOT number 3 (centre) and 4 (port side), the deballasting of 2000 m/t from double bottom tank number 2 (port side) and the pumping out of 500m/t of seawater from cargo hold 1, the casualty was trimmed about 8 metres by the stern and subsequently refloated.

Temporary repairs were carried out to the tank top of cargo hold 1 and a yokohama fender (protected by tyres) was wedged/secured in front of the collision bulkhead.

During the operation S/T "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" supplied fresh water.

The casualty remained off Astypalaia, with the "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" standing by from 11th September to 1st October, for surveys, Port State Control formalities and weather abatement.  The night of 1st October anchor dragged during prevailing gale force winds.  On 2nd October the casualty was escorted to Neorion Shipyard, Ermoupolis, Syros Island where redelivery took place after all portable salvage and towage equipment onboard was removed.

The salvage service, lasting about 4 weeks overall was entirely successful.