Seamax Marine Services has successfully salvaged Heng Tong 77, which was beached in a storm in Pakistan
It worked with a local salvage company to refloat this vessel on 7 September after it grounded on Clifton beach, Karachi on 21 July.
Heng Tong 77 was re-floated without any casualties or environment damage despite challenges which included adverse swell and wind, tow distance and reducing the grounding impact.
Previous attempts had been thwarted by high tides and unfavourable weather conditions.
Pakistan special assistant on maritime affairs Mehmood Maulvi says this was the first major salvage completed using local capabilities, which was “a milestone in the country’s shipping industry”. Seamax was supported by onshore subcontractors Ayan Shipbreakers, Pakistan Navy and the Ministry of Ports and Shipping. It used a tugboat, barge and multicat for the salvage project.
In the Maldives, a 1977-built tanker and tug were grounded in a storm on 15 September. They were anchored in high winds and waves, but their anchors were dragged by currents and both vessels drifted.
A rescue tug refloated the grounded tug TB Marina, but the 1,117-dwt tanker, Transfuel 9 is still aground on VilliMale’s reef. There are no reports of oil leaks and no reports of damage.
Off South Africa, search and rescue tug SA Amandla assisted 12,400-TEU container ship MSC Katrina which caught fire and was drifting west of Port Elizabeth. This 2021-built, Panama-flagged ship was sailing from Lome, Togo to Durban, South Africa.
During the tow towards Durban, SA Amandla encountered heavy weather on 15 September and sheltered in Port Elizabeth.
In southeast Asia, a tug was required to assist a container ship damaged through a collision with a coal barge. Indonesian ship Tanto Mitra struck the coal barge at Banjarmasin outer anchorage, in the Java Sea, off southern Kalimantan.
This 119-m, 2016-built container vessel sustained bow damage and required salvage. It was escorted by tug to Banjarmasin for inspection and repairs, according to Fleetmon.
In Vietnam, a general cargo ship My An 1 sank on 14 September after it was struck by another cargo ship Lisa Auerbach at Vung Tau anchorage. Liberia-flagged, 2008-built Lisa Auerbach rescued the 17 crew, but My An 1 is submerged as a navigation and environmental hazard with 40 tonnes of fuel on board.
In Egypt, the Suez Canal Authority intervened to assist a stranded bulk carrier. Its tugs swiftly assisted 2012-built Coral Crystal when it encountered mechanical issues while transiting in the southern direction. Tugs escorted the Panama-flagged ship to the Great Bitter Lake.
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