Salvage & Towage Services - Operations Reference List 2010

• Motor Tanker “ENERGY CONQUEROR”
  
  

  

  

  On Saturday 25th December, we mobilized motor tug "FALISCA" from Trapani, Italy, to the assistance of Motor Tanker "ENERGY CONQUEROR" (42,011 GRT / 69,999 DWT), disabled East of Pantelaria. The vessel was safely towed and anchored at Hurd Bay, Malta, 10 miles off Valetta, on the 27th December – motor tug "FALISCA" remained on standby and was released on the on 28th December 2010.

   

  On Friday 7th January 2011, we dispatched our salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to tow to Greece M/T "ENERGY CONQUEROR" (42,011 GRT / 69,999 DWT) anchored at Hurd Bay which towed her safely to Piraeus – arrived on 13th January, 2011.
• Pipe Burying Vessel "TROLLNES"
  
  

  

  

  On Friday 10th December 2010, we mobilized salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of the Pipe Burying Vessel "TROLLNES" (GT 6,398, DWT 8,734), laden with sand, disabled about 30 n.miles West of Corfu Island (North Ionian Sea).

   

  The vessel was safely towed to Ravenna - arrived on 16th December 2010.
• Motor Vessel "OCEAN VICTORY"
  
  

  

  

  On Friday 5th November 2010, we dispatched salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of M/V "OCEAN VICTORY" (GRT 4,245, DWT 5,979), disabled about 100 miles North of Alexandria, Egypt.

   

  The vessel was safely towed to Piraeus – arrived 10th November 2010.
• Motor Tanker “PYXIS BETA”
  
  

  

  On Saturday 2nd October, 2010, we dispatched AHTS "TYPHOON" from Falmouth, to the assistance of the combined chemical and oil tanker Motor Tanker "PYXIS BETA" (GT 5,256, DWT 7,800) laden with urea, disabled about 85 nautical miles SE of Ushant, France.

   

  Casualty was towed safely to Blaye (France).
• Motor Vessel “SALTINA”
  
  

  

  

  We dispatched our station keeping salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS HELLAS" from Ponta Delgada, Azores Islands, on the 27th September, 2010, to the assistance of Motor Vessel "SALTINA" (5,087GT, 7,300 DWT) disabled due to main engine problem approximately 400 n. miles Southwest of Ponta Delagada.

   

  Casualty was safely towed to Pasajes, Spain – arrived on 11th October 2010.
• Motor Vessel "MOUNT ATHOS" - Maritime Towage
  
  

  

  On 8th September 2010, we mobilized salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of the M/V "MOUNT ATHOS" (GT 4,105, DWT 6,587) disabled about 35 n.miles South East of Kastelorizon Island.

   

  The vessel was safely towed to Varna - arrived on 16th September 2010.
• Motor Vessel "LEVANTE"
  
  

  On Monday 23rd August 2010, we dispatched salvage tug "SUMATRAS", from the Cayman Islands, to the assistance of the Motor Vessel "LEVANTE " (GRT 4,381, DWT 4,950) fully laden with bagged rice, disabled about 130 n.miles West of Manzalino, Cuba.

   

  Casualty was towed safely to Cap-Haitiren to discharge her cargo - arrived on 27th August, 2010. Discharging completed on 6th September.
• Motor Tanker "LIVRAMENTO"
  
  

  

  On 10th July 2010 our salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" proceeded to the assistance of Motor Tanker "LIVRAMENTO" (GT 25,800, DWT 44,582) in ballast disabled about 1,500 miles SSW of Galle, Sri Lanka. The "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" arrived at the scene of the casualty on the 17th July and stood by in monsoon conditions.

   

  On the 27th July, the "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" was relieved of her duties and returned to her salvage station at Sri Lanka.
• Motor Vessel 'EAST EXPRESS'
  
  

  

  On Sunday 9th May 2010, we dispatched salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of M/V "EAST EXPRESS" (GRT 3,504, DWT 3,126), laden with 2,149 MT of MDF, disabled about 40 miles Southwest of Kasteli, Crete.

   

  The vessel was safely towed to Piraeus – arrived 12th May 2010.
• Motor Vessel "MONICA P"
  
  

  

  On the 5th May 2010 we were advised by the owners/managers of vessel Motor Vessel "MONICA P" (GRT 27,011, DWT 46,667), that she had run aground at the mouth of the Amazon River (canal norte of Rio Amazonas), approximately 45 miles from Macapa, and required professional assistance. The vessel was on a voyage from Santana (BZ) to Europe, laden with about 43,500 metric tons of iron ore when the incident occurred.

   

  Our Argentinean Salvage Master flew from Buenos Aires to Macapa on the 6th May 2010 and boarded the casualty at midnight on the 7th May.

   

  The only available powerful tug "REBRAS IGUACU" (4,425 BHP, 62 TBP) was contracted and sailed from Sao Luiz to the casualty's position on the 7th May. Upon completion of inspections and calculations it was found that the vessel was aground from the middle of hold no.5 to approximately 5metres in the way of the superstructure and only on her port side. A preliminary salvage plan was prepared and submitted to the coast guard for approval.

   

  During the afternoon high water on the 8th May, a re-floating attempt was performed by using the ship's engine, but with no success. At 07.30hrs on the 9th May, the tug "REBRAS IGUACU" arrived and immediately positioned herself in order to scour the mud from beneath the ship's hull on the port side by way of hold no.5 and superstructure. After a few hours the vessel started swinging and her heading began to change. With the assistance of the tug and the ship's engine, the vessel was successfully refloated at 12.10hrs. Following the instructions from port authorities, the vessel, under pilot and escorted by the "REBRAS IGUACU", proceeded to the port of Macapa for inspections by the authorities. However, when the vessel was in the vicinity of Ilha Pedreira, she ran aground again. Immediately the salvage master instructed the "REBRAS IGUACU" to connect the tow line at the ship's bow, and awaited for high water to attempt to refloat the vessel. Under command of the salvage master, with the assistance of tug and ship's engine, the vessel successfully refloated at 22.00hrs. For safety reasons, due to shallows, the tug remained connected up to Macapa roads.

   

  On the 10th May, the vessel was inspected by port authorities. Following the inspections the vessel sailed under pilot from Macapa on the 11th May, escorted by the tug "REBRAS IGUACU" and with the salvage master onboard. The tug was released and the salvage master disembarked at Espadarte at Para River. The M/V "MONICA P" resumed on her voyage to Europe.
• Motor Vessel "MOUNT ATHOS"
  
  

  

  On 3rd May 2010, we dispatched tug "MALIKA" from Dakar, to the assistance of M/V "MOUNT ATHOS" (GT 4,105, DWT 6,587), laden with 4,543 MT of raw cane sugar in bulk, disabled about 300 miles north of Dakar.

   

  The vessel was safely towed to Dakar – arrived 7th May 2010.
• Passanger/Cruise Vessel "OCEAN MAJESTY"
  
  

  

  

  On Tuesday 30th March 2010, we deployed salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, for the towage of the Passenger/Cruise vessel "OCEAN MAJESTY" (GRT 10,417) from Piraeus passenger terminal.

   

  The vessel was safely towed to Chalkis Shipyard - arrived on 31st March 2010.
• Motor Tanker "TAXIARCHIS"
  
  

  On 4th March 2010, we dispatched salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" from her Galle (Sri Lanka) salvage station, to the assistance of Motor Tanker "TAXIARCHIS" (GT 45,140, DWT 85,000) disabled about 120 nautical miles south of Dondra Head, south off Sri Lanka coast.

   

  The vessel was safely towed to Galle – arrived 5th March 2010.
• Motor Yacht "BARRACUDA"
  
  

  On Sunday 28th February 2010, we dispatched tug "HERMES", from her Patras station, to the assistance of the motor yacht "BARRACUDA" (67 GT, 21metres in length), which had grounded about 12 nautical miles from Patras.

   

  The "BARRACUDA" was successfully refloated on the 1st March at 03.15 hrs; the yacht was subsequently towed by "HERMES", with our salvage master in attendance onboard, to safe berth at Patras port at 06.20 hrs. On the same day, she subsequently moved to Patras berth No.3, and was safely delivered to her owners.
• Motor Vessel "MARGIT GORTHON"
  
  

  

  On the 22nd February 2010, we dispatched our salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS HELLAS" from her Ponta Delgada (Azores Islands) salvage station, to the assistance of the pallet carrier/side loader cargo vessel M/V "MARGIT GORTHON" (GT 12,750, DWT 14,240) laden with about 10,000 metric tonnes of wood pulp / brown "KRAFT", immobilized about 900 nautical miles North West of Azores, due to ingress of water in engine room, resulting in black out.

   

  During the voyage from Ponta Delgada to the casualty's position "TSAVLIRIS HELLAS" encountered adverse weather conditions with gale force winds, high seas and heavy swell of up to 6 metres. "TSAVLIRIS HELLAS" arrived at the scene of the casualty on the 28th February 2010. Emergency towing lights were installed on board and the vessel was supplied with provisions. On the same day the towage began towards El Ferrol, North West Spain.

   

  From the 2nd until the 6th March, the convoy encountered gale force winds, very high seas and heavy swells, resulting in heavy rolling and pitching of the tug and tow. On the morning of 8th March, the steel wire pennant parted, and attempts to reconnect commenced immediately. However, due to prevailing long swells, attempts were aborted. On the 9th March, swell eased and tow connection was re-established.

   

  Towage to El-Ferrol resumed and the convoy arrived safely on the 17th March. All necessary arrangements were made by the salvors, for the casualty to proceed, with the assistance of port tug, to Navantia repair yard for repairs. The same day, our dispatched salvage team commenced the dewatering of the engine room and the pollutants were transferred into MARPOL trucks for disposal. The dewatering was completed on the morning of the 17th March, and the vessel was safely delivered to owners. 
• Motor Tanker "ATHINA"
  
  

  

  

  On Friday 22nd January 2010, we dispatched salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of M/T "ATHINA" (GRT 7,613, DWT 12,733) in ballast, which had stranded approximately 2.5 n.miles east of Kali Limenes, southern Crete. The vessel had dragged her anchors in sudden bad weather and grounded approximately 20 meters from the high rising rocky shoreline. Initially there was an imminent danger of pollution, however, this subsided, following transfer of all the bunkers and pollutants to the sub-contracted oil recovery anti-pollution vessel "AEGIS". A diver's inspection revealed that rocks had penetrated the ship's bottom. It was also observed that there were small pinnacle shaped rocks all along the port and starboard side of the vessel.

   

  The salvage team made preparations for re-floating efforts, which were successful on Saturday 30th January, 2010. Following the re-floating, M/T "ATHINA" was towed to the anchorage for underwater inspection and for document preparation for towage to Piraeus.

   

  On the 31st January due to adverse weather conditions (south westerly gale force winds) it was decided for safety reasons that the salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" and tugboat "HECTOR" proceed with the M/T "ATHINA" in tow under a controlled drifting mode, off Kali Limenes, until the weather improved. On the 3rd February the weather abated and the convoy anchored off Kali Limenes. On the 4th February, a detailed underwater dive inspection was performed. All towage certificates were received on the 5th February and on the same day the convoy sailed towards Piraeus.

   

  On Saturday 6th February, the convoy arrived safely at Piraeus roads but due to prevailing weather conditions (Southerly gale force winds) M/T "ATHINA", salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" and tugboat "HECTOR" anchored off the Northern Coast of Aegina Island for shelter. On Monday 8th February, the convoy proceeded to Piraeus pilot station and with the assistance of port tugs the "ATHINA" berthed alongside at Perama, for transferring the bunkers and pollutants from "AEGIS". Transfer back to "ATHINA" commenced on the 11th February. This unexpected delay was due to the preparation of all relevant customs documentation and the public strike that occurred on the 10th February, and was completed on the 12th February. The casualty has been safely delivered to her owners.