Latest news with #T&TSalvage
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Smouldering Wan Hai 503 still adrift without a port of refuge
Nearly a month after the Singapore-flagged vessel Wan Hai 503 caught fire off the coast of Kerala, the vessel continues to be adrift, emitting fire and smoke and weathering stormy weather and rain in the Arabian Sea. Though the vessel is adrift approximately 130 nautical miles off the Indian coastline, outside the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary, the vessel continues to remain on a high-density shipping corridor, necessitating continuous traffic warnings to passing vessels. Plan not submitted An assessment conducted by the salvage team (T&T Salvage) stressed the need for a port of refuge, as removing fuel from the vessel offshore still remains unsafe. However, the owner and salvors of the ship are yet to submit a detailed plan to the Indian authorities for fuel transfer and moving the vessel to a port of refuge. If there's a delay in the salvage operation, the vessel has to be towed further south of its current position, around 200 nautical miles away from the Indian coast, according to the report of the Directorate General of Shipping. It is also necessary that the onboard fire has to be fully contained before it reaches the port of refuge. As per the latest report, the temperature on the left and right of the vessel was 64°C and 68°C, respectively. Speaking to The Hindu, a senior shipping crew said the weather in the Arabian Sea is the major hindrance to the containment of fire and smoke. The squally weather with wind, occasionally gusting to 100 km/hour, adds fuel to the fire. Further, it is not possible to apply fire extinguisher from the top of the ship since choppers can carry only a limited quantity. A good number of containers have undeclared cargo, which adds to the woes of the firefighters, he said. 'The best option' Once fire spreads to petrochemical products, it is difficult to contain it, said Sekhar Kuriakose, member secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. The monsoon rain will not help contain the fire. 'The best option is to find a port of refuge at the earliest before the hull disintegrates. Considering the current position of the ship, navigating it to the coast of Africa would be ideal,' said Mr. Kuriakose. It was on June 9 that the Singapore-flagged vessel witnessed container explosions causing a significant onboard fire, around 44 nautical miles from Azhikkal. The entire vessel was engulfed by the fire.
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck: Threat of oil spill into sea lingers as new seepage detected
Though the underwater salvage operation of the container ship MSC Elsa 3 that sank off the Alappuzha coast on May 25 began on Monday (June 9), the threat of an oil spill into the sea from the ship still lingers off the coast of Kerala. The shipping owner Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) had roped in the Singapore-based T&T Salvage for the underwater salvage operation. The team that mobilised diving support vessel SEAMEC III and divers to carry out an air-diving operation sealed a leak from the sounding pipe of fuel oil tank 22 successfully using layered capping comprising plastic and polyester cloth. Separately, a loose cap on another sounding pipe was tightened by divers, effectively stopping a minor leak. However, a new case of seepage has been detected from either main engine lube oil tank 25 or 26. Now, the divers are preparing to carry out the sealing procedures, said the latest situation report released by the government agencies. The detection of minor seepage from one of the main lube oil tanks underlines the importance of continuing the sustained dive operations. As dive time per diver is limited to about 30 minutes, the scaling-up of diving personnel is necessary to meet the operational timeline amid an increasingly narrow weather window, said the report. Further, the oil removal from Elsa 3 and underwater recovery can essentially begin only after this ongoing diving operation. Onshore, container salvage continues with 56 containers delivered to the port and four more under active recovery. A survey is scheduled to verify the status of two containers previously visible near the Kollam stretch. Meanwhile, the volunteers continued beach clean-up exercises across Thiruvananthapuram and Kannyakumari.
New Indian Express
11-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Thiruvanthapuram firm and fisherfolk play major role in recovery of Elsa 3 containers
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A second ship accident in the waters off the Kerala coast in a span of two weeks has put in focus the crucial role played by the coastal community and a local firm in emergency recovery of containers. The Thiruvananthapuram-based Waterline Shipping and Logistics has been lauded for its quick response, harnessing the expertise of local fishermen to salvage containers from the rough seas after the sinking of MSC Elsa 3. Waterline was engaged by the directorate general of shipping a day after the vessel sank around 14.6 nautical miles off the Alappuzha coast. Beginning May 26, the agency launched operations swiftly, continuing through May 29. They successfully identified 54 of the 61 containers that washed ashore and recovered 18 of them before major international salvage teams including T&T Salvage (USA) and MERC took over.
New Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Seabed mapping and recovery efforts underway after MSC Elsa 3 sinks off Kerala coast
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With many cargo containers still unaccounted for following the sinking of cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3 off the Kerala coast, and rising concerns over oil pollution and the widespread dispersal of plastic pellets, the Directorate General (DG) of Shipping has launched a major recovery operation. As part of the effort, the DG Shipping will soon conduct comprehensive seabed mapping using a multi-beam survey system to locate missing containers and the sunken vessel. The operation is also aimed at mitigating marine ecological risks stemming from the incident. The cost of the recovery will be borne by the vessel's owner, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which has appointed US-based firm T&T Salvage to carry out container recovery, oil removal, and pollution control measures. According to sources, T&T Salvage is assembling a team of divers, including saturation divers from South Africa, to aid the underwater retrieval of containers. The Water Lily, an emergency tow vessel, is currently being equipped with a multi-beam survey system for detailed seabed mapping. In addition, the vessel SEAMAC III will assist in diving operations.
CBC
21-02-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Cracks, leaks found in cargo ship that ran aground near Lark Harbour
Crews continue to work around the weather as they assess and attempt to recover a cargo ship that ran aground last weekend near Lark Harbour, N.L. The ship — and its crew of 20, which were rescued — lost power at sea and found itself aground in Cedar Cove on Newfoundland's west coast. On Friday, Bruce English, senior response officer with the Marine Environmental and Hazards section of the Canadian Coast Guard, said a leak was found in the MSC Baltic III. "It's been a painful week waiting for information," said English. Winds have clocked over 100 kilometres per hour in Lark Harbour Friday, but crews were still able to get aboard the stuck vessel. Damage has been found on the bottom and the hull, said English, and there is "an oily water mixture" in the engine room and water in some cargo holds. Texas-based company T&T Salvage is on site and is weighing the options for the ship's removal. Safety of crews is one of the top priorities for the coast guard at the moment, said English. "We successfully removed 20 people without anyone getting hurt during the storm," he said. "We don't want to hurt anybody or injure them [by] putting them on." An emergency zone has been designated in the water, air and on the land in the area of the grounded ship. The coast guard is asking people not to let their curiosity get the better of them as operations continue. They are urging everyone to stay away from the area. Drones are not allowed to be flown in the area, as a coast guard helicopter has been making daily flights over the vessel. "Everyone is curious," said English. "If it was in my backyard, I'd want to know, too. But we ask that people stay back from the area."
