As soon as the report was received of the wreck of the 185m container vessel, originating from Vigo in Spain and belonging to the company CMA-CGM, three Bourbon vessels chartered by the French Navy, Abeille Languedoc, then Abeille Bourbon and finally Alcyon were successively dispatched to the site to prevent any risk of pollution.

Les Abeilles International was quickly ordered by CMA-CGM, on behalf of Delmas, to take charge as project manager under an assistance contract.

Above and beyond the resources immediately provided by the Prefecture (Préfecture maritime del’Atlantique), Les Abeilles International called on subcontractors, including SMIT Salvage, with which it had already worked during earlier sensitive salvage operations.

When the responders first arrived, towing was out of the question due to the casualty’s position in shallow water.

Once the site was secured by Alcyon, a Bourbon Offshore Surf anti-pollution vessel, working with Abeille Bourbon, deployed a double anti-pollution floating boom. The forward holds were pumped out and all the fuel oil was recovered under extremely arduous conditions. The poor weather conditions and the large tidal ranges made it even harder to access the vessel. In particular the salvage crews had to work aboard a freighter listing 18° with a slippery deck, posing an ever-present danger.

Ten days of continuous assistance were to prove necessary to pump out all the fuel oil so as to prevent any pollution, with the utmost respect for the interests of the local communities and the charterer. The ability to analyse the situation, mastery of the solutions recommended and above all, coordinate the crews and the technical resources proved to be the critical factors in the success of this operation.

The Les Abeilles International Salvage Unit chartered and gathered together all the specialized personnel and the necessary resources to work under the best safety conditions and prevent any accidental pollution. More than 10 vessels and barges were dispatched to the site, including tugs, crane barges, sheerlegs, tankers, pilot boats, personnel transfer boats, and an anti-pollution tanker. More than 65 professionals were mobilized, including the salvage teams, crews, divers, liaison officers, naval architects, engineers and chemists. Underwater diving equipment, cutting, pumping and drying equipment, surface anti-pollution equipment, communications systems and analysis equipment was all deployed. The Salvage Unit then worked on removing 40m³ of diesel located in a double bottom under the engine, an operation requiring an even greater degree of technical expertise.

Despite weeks of bad weather and a heavy list, nearly 200 containers have been removed from the upper deck, with a similar number remaining on board. It is hoped the vessel can be lightered enough for refloating then towed to a suitable demolition site.

MJ Information No: 22538