Operations List
On Friday 12th June 2009, we mobilized salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of the BC "THOR WIND" (GT 25,889, DWT 39,042) disabled about 45 n.miles North West of Ikaria Island.
The vessel was safely towed to Gulluk - arrived on 14th June 2009.
On Friday 10th July 2009, we dispatched salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS HELLAS", from her Las Palmas salvage station, to the assistance of the M/T "BISKRA" (GRT 8,744, DWT 11,404) disabled about 250 miles south of Las Palmas.
Casualty towed safely to Las Palmas.
On Saturday 18th July , TSAVLIRIS dispatched own salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" from her Colombo salvage station, to the assistance of "CELINE I" (GRT 45,025, DWT 75,471) disabled 250 n.miles east of Galle after suffering a blackout.
Casualty was towed safely to Colombo.
TSAVLIRIS SALVAGE GROUP was recently involved in one of the biggest salvage operations of the year, lasting two months and costing over USD $6 million. On Wednesday 22nd July, we dispatched salvage tug "LONDON" (13,500 BHP, 170 TBP) to the assistance of cape size bulk carrier "GOOD LUCK" (90,831 GRT, 173,028 DWT) fully laden with iron ore, disabled off Singapore. The casualty had lost both anchors and anchor chains and had drifted onto 6 - 7 anchored vessels. Second salvage tug "SIROCCO" was engaged to assist in the shifting of the casualty off port limits and thence to standby on location.
Three utility units were also engaged to assist during the course of the operations. Special pumps were deployed from Framo Singapore for dewatering purposes. "SIRI MARINE" was contracted to provide on board motion and hull integrity monitoring services during the salvage operations.
A salvage team consisting of salvage masters, naval architects and engineers flew from Greece and Holland to attend the casualty. A large team of about fifty persons including local fitters and welders were engaged to carry out all the required temporary repairs. Due to the large number of people being on board for these repairs the sanitary/working/living/sleeping conditions were upgraded. The casualty had sustained various contact damages - requiring temporary repairs. A team of naval architects was engaged to prepare all the relevant calculations and studies for the temporary repairs. Furthermore, she had sustained propeller damage. All damages were verified by a preliminary underwater video inspection.
New anchors and cables were fitted onto the vessel. Apart from hull and weather deck damages, the portside side shell by way of Cargo Hold No 1 was dented and punctured just above waterline. On the Starboard side, there were 3 large deep indentations, and over 12.5 metre cracks. Added to this the side and deck longitudinals were distorted and torn off. Finally the deck plating and the weather deck distortion required a "Guinness Book of Records" size temporary repair to restore the ship's hull integrity and the required longitudinal strength. Whilst the two salvage tugs provided controlled drifting with the M/V "GOOD LUCK" in the South China sea, approximately 55 tons of steel was shipped out to open sea to provide the basic material for the replacement of web frames, longitudinal side and deck stiffeners, crack arrestors, doublers, brackets and frames. On TST No.2 and in way of cargo hold no 3 the vertical crack was repaired by fitting an insert plate of 7.5 x 3.5 metres on the side shell. Similar job carried out also in way of Cargo Hold no 7 (but with additional reinforcement from the inside) for the horizontal crack in way of the meter line. A total length of 2250 meters was fitted, cut and welded.
In view of the nature of this job, the "GOOD LUCK" had to change various anchorages due to congestion to ensure all temporary repairs were completed. The first anchorage was East of Hosburg. Here, our salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" replaced "SIROCCO" on the 7th August 2009. The casualty was towed safely by "LONDON" and "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" to a sheltered anchorage for a detailed underwater inspection and to continue the exterior/interior repairs, as there was an original suspicion that the casualty may have touched the ground. This inspection was performed on Monday 24th August, 2009. The casualty's propeller blades were found damaged. Salvage tug "LONDON" was released on the 21st August, 2009, from her services.
The casualty was situated in-between Singapore and the Malaysian OPL (Off Port Limit) undergoing temporary repairs. Following these temporary repairs, and undergoing sea trials, M/V "GOOD LUCK", escorted by salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" and chartered AHTS vessel "PACIFIC RUNNER", proceeded to the Western Approaches of Singapore under her own power and dropped anchor 2.5 nautical miles west of Pulau Nipa, Singapore.
After "PACIFIC RUNNER" was released and "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" was ordered alongside M/V "GOOD LUCK", a small craft was sighted approaching from a northerly direction. Alerted by the type of boat and the military attire of persons on board, all alarms were raised and the crew was alerted. Five men attempted to board the salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" dressed in military attire, armed with 2 machine guns, personal handguns, grappling hooks, and VHF radio sets. The attempted pirate attack was foiled due to the alarms and the crew seen ready with fire-hoses.
The pirates thereafter attempted to board the M/V "GOOD LUCK". Due to the raised alarms, the salvage team and crew on deck, the pirates once again aborted the attempted attack, and sped away in Northerly direction. Their course was later altered towards Selat Pawai. This course later changed and the vessel was seen meeting with a bunker barge type vessel, which was waiting in Singapore waters. The incident was reported to the Singapore Port Operations Control Centre and the flag state. Salvage team and crew were on a sharp look out for any further attacks.
Temporary repairs to M/V "GOOD LUCK" were completed on Monday 31st August, 2009. The casualty was safely delivered to Kukkup anchorage on the 14th September whereupon salvage services terminated. After redelivery to the owners, Naval Architects from the owners, Hull & Machinery, P&I and NK Class all agreed that the vessel was fit for unrestricted voyage under her own power to her original destination Xingang, Northern China for cargo discharge. Casualty proceeded to destination, discharged and safely arrived at Xingang on Monday 28th September, 2009 for permanent repairs.
On Wednesday 26th August 2009, we dispatched salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS HELLAS", from her Las Palmas salvage station, to the assistance of the BC "CAPTAIN GEORGE L" (GRT 35,803, DWT 63,880) disabled about 220 n.miles South West of Lisbon.
Casualty was towed safely to Cadiz - arrived on Monday 31st August, 2009.
On the 10th September 2009, bulk carrier "MINOAN EURO" (GT 35,699, DWT 64,155), fully laden with 62,730 MT of sub-bituminous coal, became immobilized, due to tail shaft leakage, in the Makassar Straits, approximately 90 nautical miles NE of Samarinda, Borneo. TSAVLIRIS promptly dispatched the AHTS "ITC CYCLONE" (10,800 BHP/136 TBP) to the assistance of the casualty, from a position about 400 nautical miles away.
"ITC CYCLONE" arrived on site on 13th September and on the same day, at 20.00 hrs, commenced towage towards Manila.
On the 17th September, while the convoy was passing between Pearl Bank and Laparan Island, the tow began to sheer very heavily due to the strong tide rips and lost control. Side thrusters were put into operation in order to manoeuvre and to stay ahead of the tow. The tow however made a heavy swing to port creating a fury of 270 degrees, thus losing control and at that moment causing her port bridle leg to part. The tow wire from the starboard side bridle leg was disconnected by the crew while the convoy drifted back through the channel between Pearl Bank and Laparan Island (at an approximate speed of 3 knots) due to the strong current. Under these circumstances the tow was connected to the stern of the casualty and the towage was recommenced towards the coast of Saban in order to reduce the influence of the current and to clear the coral shallows. On the 19th September the tow connection was re-established at the bow and the tow resumed to Manila.
TSAVLIRIS also dispatched the S/T "TRABAJADOR-1" (8,200 BHP, 85 TBP) from Manila to assist as steering tug arriving on the scene on the 20th September. During the towage, the convoy encountered adverse weather conditions due to nearby typhoons. The convoy arrived safely at Manila on the 24th September and anchored in Manila Bay.
Moreover, HYDREX had been contracted to carry out the replacement of tail shaft seals by specialist divers in situ, with vessel in laden condition. This innovative method of operating within a pressurized habitat saved the onward towage to her destination (South Korea) and enabled the casualty to undergo permanent repairs without dry-docking. On the 26th September, underwater repairs were interrupted due to the typhoon "KETSANA" and had to resume later.
The "ITC CYCLONE" was released on the 27th September at 05.30 hrs and the "TRABAJADOR-1" continued her services as a stand-by tug and as a diving support vessel. Repairs by HYDREX were completed on the 1st October. After successful sea trials on the 2nd October, the "MINOAN EURO" was redelivered to her owners and sailed to her destination Younghung South Korea, where she arrived on the 11th October 2009.
On April 18th 2008, we dispatched the tug "SHAHRAZAD" from Jebel Ali to the assistance of Container Vessel "MSC ZANZIBAR" (GRT 23000 DWT 34000) in ballast condition having sustained rudder damage.
The T/B "SHAHRAZAD" escorted casualty safely to Bahrain.
On 30th January we dispatched Salvage Tug "ENGLISHMAN" from Abidjan to the assistance of general cargo vessel "ASTRA SEA" (GRT 9475, DWT 11587), laden with 2000 mt of hot rolled prime steel wire rod in coils, disabled abt 62 n.miles South SW off Takoradi.
The "ENGLISHMAN" arrived at the scene of the casualty, stood by while casualty carried out repairs and escorted her for a while after she got under way. The "ENGLISHMAN" was subsequently recalled when the casualty resumed her voyage at full speed.
During ferocious gale force winds and swells up to 10 meters in height, the general cargo ship "SOPHIA" (with Ro-Ro facility) GRT 5000, DWT 6200, laden with about 2000 tons of large carbon steel pipes, grounded approximately 10 n.miles off the Algerian port Skikda.
On March 12th 2008, we despatched tug "EMS" to the assistance of Motor Tanker "NAVKIOS" (GRT 4500, DWT 7200) in ballast, disabled due to rudder damage off Norderney and towed casualty to Wilhelmshaven.
On Sunday April 6th 2008, we dispatched S/T "BB OCEAN" from her salvage station at Stavanger, Norway to the assistance of Liberian Bulkcarrier M/V "ATLANTIC PRIDE" (GRT 41000/DWT 65000) laden with iron ore concentrate of 55000 M/T, disabled about 100 n.miles northwest of Bergen in Norwegian Sea (and about 30 n.miles west off nearest coast).
The S/T "BB OCEAN" towed casualty safely in Niewe Mass-Rotterdam and delivered her to port tugs.
On April 21st 2008, we dispatched the salvage tug "TIBA FOLK" to the assistance of the M/T "AGIA BARBARA" (GRT 940 DWT 1600) disabled about 100 n.miles South of Salalah (Oman).
The "TIBA FOLK" towed the casualty safely to Ajman (UAE) anchorage.
On July 8th 2008, we dispatched our salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS HELLAS" from her Cape Town salvage station to the assistance of M/V "BELUGA FOUNDATION" (GRT 9611, DWT 12731), built 2006, laden with project cargo, disabled about 200 n.miles NW of Luanda.
The "TSAVLIRIS HELLAS" towed the casualty to Luanda to discharge part of her cargo and thence to Walvis Bay for discharging balance cargo and repairs.