More LOF work for Tsavliris

London-based law firm Roose+Partners has produced LOF statistics for 2017 including the one above and breaking the number down, 22 involved bulk carriers and there was a big rise in general cargo vessel incidents, up from eight in 2016 to 14 last year. Fifty seven of the 63 were performed by companies with a permanent commitment to providing salvage assistance, Greek salvors collectively performing 28 of the operations, 12 of which by Tsavliris.

When the bulk carrier Sinica Graeca, laden with 50,000t of coal was in collision in the Singapore Strait fuel oil spilled into the sea and into a cargo hold adjacent to the 100m2 hole in its side. Tsavliris subcontracted Singapore Salvage Engineers to assist in the salvage involving mobilisation of equipment and divers and a salvage team from Greece and the Netherlands.

Full cargo discharge was required and after patching the damaged area Sinica Graeca sailed to a sheltered anchorage where the cargo was discharged into other vessels. It was then moved to a floating dock marking completion of the 68-day long operation.

Just a month later Tsavliris’ tugs Hermes and Hermes I assisted the drilling rig Eirik Raude after it broke from its moorings in strong winds at Astakos Port, Greece. Two days later the tugs were able to tow the rig back to its berth.

Tsavliris was contracted in early December to assist the laden bulk carrier Delfa which experienced crankshaft problems 700 miles northwest of Colombo. The AHT Salvanguard arrived three days later and a towage connection established. After a brief stop at Galle to disembark armed guards Delfa was delivered to an anchorage at Colombo.

Shortly after, a similar operation saw the tug Salvage Ace assist another disabled bulk carrier in bad weather condition 15 miles off the Taiwan east coast. The laden 169,000dwt Maria A Angelicoussi was taken in tow just six miles from the coast and delivered to Kaohsiung. A day later Salvage Ace was again in action assisting another disabled bulk carrier off Kaohsiung. Iolcos Genesis was first towed to an anchorage then escorted by the tug to Taichung, Taiwan.

By Peter Barker