A joint salvage operation was launched by Dutch towage specialists International Towage Contractors (ITC) and US based Titan Maritime working under a joint Lloyds Open Form agreement. The two companies have an established working relationship and ITC immediately mobilised their 16,800hp salvage and icebreaking tug Kigoria and Titan sent a four-man salvage team to St Johns, Newfoundland to meet up with personnel from ITC.

Camilla had been blown over 300 miles east of the Canadian coast and Kigoria spent over 24 hours attempting to board the ship to make a towing connection but failed in the severe weather.

Ryan Leet, an 8,850bhp anchorhandling tug supply vessel from Halifax was subcontracted to assist and eventually succeeded in getting two men aboard the casualty using a fast rescue boat.

Kigoria's towing gear was secured and with Camilla listing 25º to port and rolling through 45º the ship was taken in tow towards St Johns.

A salvage team was put aboard the ship by the Ryan Leet during the early hours of 30 January over 160 miles east of St John's.

Camilla's engine room was found to be flooded and there was water in the lower car deck.

Kigoria was allowed to tow Camilla into the relatively sheltered waters of Conception Bay to enable the salvage team to stabilise and dewater the vessel. Camilla was finally handed back to her owners on 13 February after twelve days of repair work in force 12 winds and blizzard conditions.

On the other side of the Atlantic the bulk carrier Highland Faith suffered a steering failure 300 miles off Lands End. The 'off duty' Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) Anglian Prince was called to assist the 77,673dwt ship at mid-day on 22 February and sailed immediately to assist.

A towing connection was made some 36 hours later in force 8-9 winds and a 3-4m swell. It is understood that the 244m long Panamanian OBO vessel, built in 1981, was on route to Europe in ballast when its rudder became jammed in the amidships position. The rescue was carried out under commercial terms and the ship was towed safely into Falmouth for repairs.

In early February the tug Kintore of UK owners J P Knight (Caledonian) Ltd put into the Azores for bunkers and stores whilst on route from the West Indies to Scotland and received a call to assist the chemical tanker Isola Bianco.

The 5,750dwt vessel was drifting south of the Azores, disabled by a machinery breakdown. Kintore, a twin-screw tug of 346grt and 3960bhp, made a towing connection in typical Atlantic winter weather on 16 February and delivered the ship to Las Palmas some seven days later as a commercial tow.