Wijsmuller despatched a Salvage Master and a Salvage Officer to the scene prior to the contract award from the owner's P&I Club.

Vans Princess was on a voyage from Antwerp with a cargo of 583 cars when she grounded on rocks close to the quayside at Tartous. The vessel suffered severe damage, with many double bottom tanks breached and the main vehicle deck flooded. Vans Princess has a 36º list to port, resting hard against the rocks.

Wijsmuller's scope of work is confined to oil removal. Personnel already on scene have been reinforced by divers and a Salvage Engineer. Following the contract award, 27 tonnes of equipment was transported from the Netherlands to Damascus on December 29. The equipment includes a hot-tap system (to be used by the diving team for the pollution-free penetration of bunker tanks), oil boom and pumps, generators, diving and other salvage gear.

A barge has been mobilised and will provide a work platform between the casualty and the quayside. Preparations of the oil removal will commence with the cutting of an access way in the heavily listing vessel's side shell. Vehicles on the submerged tank top will be removed by a crane working from the quayside.

This will create a 4 m wide access lane for divers. The bunkers will be discharged to road tankers on the quayside.

Work is progressing rapidly given the poor condition of the vessel and its continued deterioration. The oil removal commenced in the first few days of the New Year.

MJ Information No: 19023