Operations List
"HERMES" towed a Floating Crane "CHRISTOS III" from Patras to Krioneri.
Τhe 16,961 dwt bulker "ARIS" broke down about 150 miles off Socotra Island on 28 March while on voyage from Brazil to Berbera with 13,000 tonnes of sugar. A LOF-95 was signed with TSAVLIRIS, whose chartered 2.050 gt-salvage tug "SB-408" left Djibuti the same day to tow the ship to Barbera.
"HERMES" towed Barge "AKTEA II" from Patras to Pylos and Barge "AKTEA III" from Pylos to Patras respectively.
The 4.000 Motor Vessel "HERO II", was on a voyage from Qingoao, China to Bangkok, when immobilised in South China Sea. The vessel, loaded with cargo steel products was towed to Hong Kong by a subcontracted tug.
The subcontracted tug "CHAMPION Z" escorted the Aircraft Carrier "VARYAG" under tow in the Dardanelles.
The 31.000 dwt Tanker "PANAGIA SOUMELA" in ballast, grounded off Suez. TSAVLIRIS immediately dispatched "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" to assist the casualty.
The vessel was successfully refloated on April 17.
Tanker "SHANNON SPIRIT" was towed from Limassol to Piraeus.
The 15.000 dwt cargo ship "SEA DUKE", loaded with 12.100 tons betonite was on a voyage from Milos to Rotterdam, when broke down off Cape Passero.
The vessel was towed by TSAVLIRIS' "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" to Piraeus .
Towage of "ATLAS" Jack up rig from Northern entrance of Vosporhus to Kavalla.
The 17.500 dwt cargo ship "AGIOS EFRAIM", while on a laden voyage from France to Angola Lobito with a cargo of 1.500 tons of corn ran aground 3 miles off Lobito. The vessel was successfully refloated on May 4th.
The 3.500 dwt cargo ship "MULTIFLEX SPRINT" suffered main engine damage off Cape Finistere. The vessel was towed to La Corunna, Spain.
TSAVLIRIS tug "HERMES" towed Motor Tanker "PROTOPOROS" from Patras to Piraeus
TSAVLIRIS attended the stranded 54.309 dwt bulker "THETIS I", which grounded at Port Klang pilot station on 26 May. The Group chartered the ITC managed 974 –gt tug "SUMATRAS", which helped to refloat the vessel on 29 May. Class surveyors at the anchorage found no damage. The bulker underwent engine repairs at anchor before continuing to Rotterdam.
On 30 May TSAVLIRIS won an LOF to salve the 33,788 dwt Products Motor Tanker "FAY STAR", which sustained a flooded engine room at Puerto Cabello fully laden with vegetable oil. By June 5, the engine room had been dried out. It was cleaned a day later, a job that included the removal of oily water from the bilges. After some additional repairs the vessel was then towed to Curacao by the chartered tug Seabulk Gannet.
In early June, the TSAVLIRIS owned tug "LEOPARD" was dispatched under a Lloyd's Open Form to assist the 12.000 Motor Vessel "PETER", reportedly taking on water after a scrape with a larger bulk carrier a few miles outside the port of Owendo. However, the vessel sank in 10 m of water and her P& I insurer, Terra Nova indicated it would not put up the guarantee provided in the Scopic Clause. After assessing the salvage operation it was concluded the salvage costs would exceed salved values and TSAVLIRIS terminated the LOF agreement.
The "LEOPARD" then proceeded to Owendo where it was held by the Gabonese authorities as a bargaining ship in their attempt to obtain $3 m bond from the shipowners in order to cover conceivable liabilities from the wreck. TSAVLIRIS' salvage master and divers who had been sent from Greece were also prevented from leaving Owendo. This was not the first time that governments had used salvage tugs as scapegoats for accidents in nearby waters, despite the fact that salvors bore no responsibility. In this instance TSAVLIRIS was not the only victim of the affair as the 25 crewmembers of the Motor Vessel "PETER" were also prevented from leaving Gabon, pending the provision of security by Terra Nova.
Fortunately, the Leopards' plight did not last too long, as diplomatic channels were able to persuade the authorities to release the vessel and the salvage team. However, the crew of the Motor Vessel "PETER" were not that lucky and while the lower ranks were later repatriated, the ships officers were kept in Owendo for several weeks with their passports withheld.
