TSAVLIRIS SALVAGE GROUP - News & Announcements

TSAVLIRIS' Quarter Two - 2009 Jun 30

The second quarter has seen TSAVLIRIS continuing to work steadily. Upon signing an LOF on Tuesday 7th April, we dispatched salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" from her Galle (Sri Lanka) salvage station, to the assistance of the M/T "GRANBA" (GRT 4658 – DWT 7650) laden with about 5,250 M/T of sulphuric acid in bulk, disabled off Trincomalee due to heavy list and leaking from cargo tanks to ballast tanks. Our salvage team, together with substantial salvage and STS operations equipment, including special protective suits / masks etc., was flown from Greece and Holland to Sri Lanka. Arrangements were made to fly special pumps, hoses, explosion proof-power packs etc (capable of pumping sulphuric acid) from FRAMO Singapore. Chemical tanker market was canvassed to locate suitable lightering tankers with stainless steel tanks.

In the early afternoon of 8th April, our salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" arrived on the scene of the casualty which, abandoned by crew, was listing and being handled by port tug arranged by Sri Lanka Navy, approximately 50 NM off the coast. Under direction of Sri Lanka Navy the "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" connected up to the casualty's bow (replacing the port tug). On 9th April at 00.10 hours the casualty sank at approximate position 08 11,15N – 082 18,55 E in a water depth of about 3800 meters. Following this on 10th April at 13.00 hours the Sri Lanka Navy released "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" whereupon she proceeded to Galle salvage station for inspection / examination of any acid and/or related damages. "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" arrived at her Galle salvage station on the 11th April at 10.00am. All other arrangements were stood down, demobilized or cancelled.

On Wednesday 6th May 2009, we mobilized salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of the M/V "ANDRONIKI" (GRT 16,983, DWT 29,159) disabled about 10 n. miles South of Ierapetra, Crete Island. The casualty was safely towed to Chalkis shipyard - arrived on 9th May 2009.

On Monday 25th May 2009, we mobilized salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" from her Galle salvage station, to the assistance of the M/V roll on/roll off (with container capacity) "MORNING SONATA" (GRT 13,871, DWT 7,450) disabled about 300 n.miles east of Galle. The vessel was safely towed to Colombo, where arrived on 29th May 2009.