Flinterstar wreck removal gets underway

The sinking of the Dutch flagged, general cargo vessel Flinterstar (6,577gt) followed collision with the Marshall Islands flagged LNG tanker Al Oraiq (122,079gt) in the Scheur fairway in the approach to Zeebrugge. Flinterstar, which was partly loaded with construction steel and crane parts grounded outside the channel to the south east of buoy Scheur 3. Flinterstar’s crew were rescued and the Al Oraiq was able to continue its voyage.

It was reported that more than 300 tons of oil escaped into the sea, some reaching nearby beaches and a nature reserve. Measures were taken to control and contain the spillage and since November 2015 a guard vessel has been stationed at the wreck site.

The location of the wreck, close to the main channel was considered a potential danger to passing shipping and the environment and in January 2016 a wreck removal order was issued. Around the same time there were also legal arguments over who was responsible for removing the wreck. Following settlement of the legal issues a contract was signed with a consortium of Belgian marine contractors comprising: Dredging International NV, Herbosch-Kiere NV, Jan de Nul NV, and Scaldis Salvage & Marine Contractors NV to remove the wreck.

Detailed preparation and mobilisation of equipment was soon underway with the wreck now in two sections, sitting upright on the seabed and partly visible above sea level. The overall methodology of the plan is based on lifting the two sections from the seabed and placing each onto a barge after first removing the vessel’s cargo.

Simultaneously, a suitable combination of lifting points, lifting chains and/or slings will be installed beneath the wreck and each section will be lifted by Scaldis’ crane vessel Rambiz onto barges for transport ashore. At the time of writing the Rambiz was working at the location and it is hoped the operation will be completed before the end of the 2016 summer season.

Mr Martin Ockier, board member of Scaldis said: “We are very pleased to be awarded this contract. As Scaldis was involved in the successful wreck removal of the Tricolor, we will apply the valuable experience gained to execute the optimum, bespoke method to the retrieval of MV Flinterstar. Our approach will be the most effective, safest and environmentally sensitive. The methodology will ensure that the duration of the offshore operation is kept as short as possible and causes the minimum possible interference to the shipping traffic. Environmental concerns were also fully evaluated in organising the appropriate disposal method of the wreck sections and cargo ashore.”

By Peter Barker