Operations List
The 60,000 dwt, Bulk Carrier "CAPTAIN GEORGE TSANGARIS" laden with 52.500 tons of wheat, grounded at Trincomalee Sri-Lanka due to damage in No 1 hold dbt p-side,while entering the port to discharge her cargo.
The vessel was refloated and delivered on 19/5/01.
The half-completed Ukrainian-built Aircraft Carrier "VARYAG" was deliverd to the port of Dalian, China in March 2002 after a marathon towage lasting 110 days. Initially the 40,000 hp "NIKOLAY CHIKER" had played the all important braking and steering role in guiding the rudder-less and engine-less 67,000 dwt Kuznetsov-class carrier through Bosporus and Dardanelles, escorted by 27 vessels including 11 tugboats and three pilot craft. However, after the TSAVLIRIS-operated tug disconnected, fierce Aegean gales caused the 984 ft X 124.5 ft carrier to break loose from her towing tugs and drift dangerously close to the Greek island of Skyros and the coast of Evia.
The "NIKOLAY CHIKER" was then engaged to secure the huge carrier for the Mediterranean leg of the towage, this contract being extended in October 2001 to cover the entire voyage to China via the Straits of Gibraltar, the Cape of Good Hope and the Malacca Straits, calling for bunkers and supplies at Piraeus, Las Palmas, Maputo and Singapore en route. Transferred to Ukraine on break-up of the Soviet Union, the stripped-down carrier had been purchased in 1998 by a Hong Kong-based company which proposed to convert it into a floating hotel and casino. A Dutch tug was hired mid-2000 to take the Varyag under tow, but Turkey initially refused permission for the Bosporus transit, and the hull spent 16 months circling the Black Sea before Ankara relented following high-level intervention from the Chinese Government. The long haul through the Med and around Africa was preferred because of risks envisaged in transiting the Suez Canal.
The 3,500 dwt, Motor Vessel "GEORGIOS XII" , while on a laden voyage from Havre to Mostaganem, with a of cargo of about 3300 tons of sugar, was immobilized due to rudder's problem in Bay of Biscay.
The vessel was refloated and towed to El Ferrol on 16/5/01.
The 13.992 dwt, Motor Vessel "SAFMARINE NARMADA", loaded with about 273 containers, while en route from Dubai to Mombassa, Durban, immobilized due to main engine failure, 360 NM at Mogadiscio, Somailia.
The vessel was towed and delivered to Mombasa on 5/6/01.
The Motor Yacht "EXECUTIVE" carrying 8 crew members and 7 passengers, run aground at Tripiti Reef, NNW of Makronissos Island.
The salvage operations ended on 7/6/01.
The 29723 dwt, Bulk Carrier "AGIOS GERASSIMOS I" - loaded with 26197 tons of wheat- while on a voyage from San Lorentzo (Aca Terminal) to Brazil, was grounded on 14th June about 315 km of Rio Parana, Argentina.
The vessel was delivered on 17/6/2001 after a successfull refloating operation.
The 13.992 dwt, Motor Vessel "BONGO DANIELSEN", loaded with about 273 containers, wghile on a voyage from Dubai to Mombassa, Durban, immobilized due to main engine failure, 360 NM at Mogadiscio, Somailia.
The vessel was towed and delivered to Mombasa on 5/6/01.
The 2,910 dwt Motor Vessel "BONGO DANIELSEN", while on a laden voyage with cement from Italy to Cape Verde, grounded on a reef in Port Sal Rei in Boa Vista Island, Cape Verde. After the grounding, the casualty suffered cracks and water flooding in her hold, engine room and db tanks, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. Scopic clause was invoked on 1/8/2001.
The salvage operations ended on 22/8/01.
The 13527 dwt Motor Vessel "HANOI GLORY" - loaded with 183 containers-was enroute from Dubai to Singapore, Hong Kong and Kaoshuing ,when immobilized due to mechanical failure on 17/08/01 close to the North part of Sumatra Island.
The salvage operation ended on 22/8/01.
The 145229 dwt Bulk Carrier "KITSA", loaded with 136.396 M/tons of iron ore, while on a voyage from Brazil to Fangcheng, China, immobilized due to mechanical failure about 250 miles SE of Richards Bay.
The vessel was towed and delivered to Fujeirah on 17/9/01.
The 6371 dwt Motor Vessel "BUFF BAY" while on a laden voyage from Jakarta to East Africa, with a cargo of about 6000 tons of bagged cement, was abandoned with heavy ingress of water in holds No. 1 & No. 2, about 200 miles SE of Mauritius. Scopic clause was invoked on 27/8/01.
The salvage operation ended successfully on 12/10/01.
The 22.671 dwt Bulk Carrier "PROSPERITY II", while on a partly laden voyage from Argentina to Brazil, with a cargo of about 10000 tons of wheat, grounded 1,4 miles off No 1 warehouse of the Port Belem – Brazil.
The vessel was successfully refloated and delivered to Belem on 28/9/01.
The 30529 dwt Bulk Carrier "PACIFICATOR" while on a laden voyage from Eilat Israel to Dahej, India, with a cargo of 32000 tons of pock phosphate, ran aground 150/180 miles North of Bobay on the reefs of Surat.
The vessel was successfully refloated on 5/10/01.
The 17565 dwt Motor Vessel "LYKES INSPIRER" - on her voyage from Port Cape Town to Montreal - was immobilized due to mechanical failure about 730 miles WNW of Walvis Bay, South Africa.
The vessel - loaded with about 13.500 tons of general cargo – was towed and delivered on 31/10/01.