COSTA CONCORDIA : Il pourrait finalement être transporté par la barge géante "Dockwise Vanguard" jusqu'à son port de démantèlement

Détails

Catégorie : Sinistres Majeurs

Créé le 11 octobre 2013

Dans un communiqué du 10 octobre 2013, Dockwise, filiale de Royal Boskalis Westminster NV ( Boskalis ), a indiqué avoir remporté auprès de Costa Crosiere Spa le contrat pour charger et transporter l'épave du Concordia de l'île de Giglio à bord de son navire géant, le Dockwise Vanguard.
Après le succès du relèvement et en prévision du renflouement complet, Dockwise et Costa semblent donc envisager très sérieusement une solution différente de celle initialement prévue pour pour enlever l'épave du Concordia qui serait alors chargée le Dockwise Vanguard Dockwise et transporté en toute sécurité dans un lieu où le paquebot sera ferraillé.
Le site officiel relatif aux opérations de sauvetage ne parle pour l'instant que d'une option mais le communiqué de Dockwise montre que Costa (et ses assureurs) semblent envisager très clairement de mettre en oeuvre cette solution, l'annonce mentionnant que Costa devait encore attendre l'accord des autorités locales sur la destination finale alors que sur place, les opérations devant permettre au navire de passer l'hiver et ses tempêtes en toute sécurité se poursuivent.
Si le contrat allait à son terme, certaines modifications devront être apportées au Dockwise Vanguard pour accueillir le Costa Concordia dans l'état ou il se trouve actuellement. L'opération est prévue pour avoir lieu vers la mi -2014. Au delà du prix (environ 30 millions de dollars), il s'agit d'un évident très bon "coup de com" pour le groupe Boskalis, tant ce naufrage fait l'objet d'un suivi médiatique intense.
Le Dockwise Vanguard est le plus grand navire semi- submersible du monde pour soulever et transporter des cargaisons extrêmement lourdes . Le navire a été initialement conçu pour transporter des structures pétrolières et gazières offshore , mais peut aussi soulever et transporter d'autres navires et d'agir comme une cale sèche offshore. Le Dockwise Vanguard mesure 275 mètres pour une largeur de 70 mètres, avec un design particulier permettant au navire de charger des navires plus longs et plus larges que les dimensions du porteur lui-même. Lorsque les ballasts sont remplis, le pont du navire s'enfonce sous l'eau, lui permettant de gérer les les cargaisons à fort tirant d'eau . Une fois le Dockwise Vanguard semi- immergée, le Costa Concordia sera amené en position au-dessus du pont ; Les ballasts seront alors vidées, le Dockwise Vanguard redevenant un navire et le Costa se retrouvant à sec sur le pont. Les premières images de synthèse donnent déjà une idée de ce que sera l'opération mais si l'opération se réalise vraiment, les photos promettent d'être spectaculaires !
Boskalis, au travers sa filiale SMIT Salvage, avait également fourni des services d'intervention d'urgence dans les premiers mois qui ont suivi l'accident du Concordia. SMIT Salvage, en collaboration avec son partenaire local Tito Neri, avait ainsi évacué les soutes du navire et avait assuré le gardiennage du navire pendant plusieurs mois après l'accident.

COSTA CONCORDIA : Entrée au guiness book des records ?

Détails

Catégorie : Sinistres Majeurs

Créé le 15 septembre 2013

Si tout se passe comme prévu, ce lundi 16 septembre devrait faire date dans l'histoire du monde maritime. Jamais en effet une opération de cette envergure n'aura été menée pour renflouer un navire de la taille du COSTA CONCORDIA. Voila maintenant près d'un an que plus de 500 personnes, appartenant aux sociétés Titan et Micoperi, conglomérat choisi par le P&I Club pour mettre en œuvre les opérations relèvement et du retirement du navire, s'affairent sur l'île du Giglio.
L'autorisation formelle a été donnée vendredi 6 septembre, par l'autorité italienne de la Protection Civile. D'ultimes inspections techniques sur l'ensemble des supports et matériels de levage disposés autour du navire sont en cours avant que les autorisations finales ne puissent être données.
Les photos aériennes donnent une idée assez précise de l'envergure de l'opération qui sera menée lorsque les conditions de mer et de météo seront optimales. Une fois relevé et équilibré grâce à un système de caissons spécialement conçus par les chantiers Fincantieri, le Concordia pourra être remorqué vers un port de déconstruction. Les opérations de sauvetage sont menées par les en collaboration avec les autorités italiennes.
Cette opération s'annonce également comme étant l'une des plus coûteuses pour les assureurs. Au delà du prix du navire (USD 510 millions en valeur d'assurance), le coût prévisionnel du relèvement estimé initialement à USD 300 millions de dollars a littéralement explosé pour arriver aujourd'hui à près de 800 millions de dollars. Autrement dit, le coût du sinistre dépassera très nettement le milliard de dollars.

Naufrage du MV SMART le 19 août 2013

Détails

Catégorie : Sinistres Majeurs

Créé le 8 septembre 2013

Ce qui est arrivé au vraquier SMART est la hantise des autorités portuaires : Un naufrage devant l'entrée du port. Aussi impensable que celà puisse paraître, le navire a subi une avarie majeure sur sa structure quelques minutes à peine après avoir quitté le port de Richards Bay en Afrique du Sud, rempli de sa préciseuse cargaison de charbon.

Et il n'aura fallu que quelques heures, balloté par la houle, le vent, et les vagues, pour que le navire ne se brise net en deux parties, laissant hébaïs les spectateurs venus assister au déferlement des vagues sur les jetées.

Cet accident n'est pas rarissime pour les vraquiers. Il en est de nombreux qui se sont brisés net en plein océan et dont on n'a plus jamais entendu parler. Il faut reconnaître que les efforts supportés par les structures de ces navires, tant au chargement qu'en navigation, sont de nature à fatiguer le plus que de raison et accélerer son vieillissement.

Ce phénomène est également connu sur les portes-conteneurs, avec le récent exemple du MOL COMFORT, navire relativement jeune, et qui a sombré en mer d'Oman il y a quelques semaines après s'être brisé en deux parties.

Au delà de la fatigue des structures, ce nouveau naufrage pose également la question de la course à la rentabilité et aux économies. A l'image du TK BREMEN, le commandant a fait le choix de quitter le port de RICHARDS BAY alors que les conditions météorologiques n'étaient pas optimales et auraient pu justifier de décaler de quelques heures le départ, la houle et les vagues à la sortie du port étant suffisamment importantes pour mettre en péril la navigation et le navire (l'enquête confirmera ou infirmera ce point soulevé notamment sur le site "gcaptain" par un internaute (voir la citation en fin d'article).

Ce cas pose également la présence du pilote à bord, ce dernier semblant également avoir quitté le bord quelques minutes avant le naufrage.

Quoi qu'il en soit, Fortunes de Mer suivra également ce nouvel évènement au travers d'une nouvelle page (ici) et sur laquelle vous trouverez toutes les informations concernant ce navire et de nombreuses photos, cartes, etc...

Naufrage du MV SMART le 19 août 2013

Détails

Catégorie : Sinistres Majeurs

Créé le 7 septembre 2013

Summary : On the 19 august 2013, The 151,000 dwt bulk carrier MV Smart ran aground on a sandbar Monday in 10 meter swells after departing Port Richards Bay. The vessel had finished loading coal at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) earlier Monday. Photos of the grounded ship show the hull has suffered structural failure at around amidships and is severely sagging. The National Sea Rescue Institute was alerted of the grounding at about 1:30 p.m. local time. At approximately 4 p.m., the structural integrity of the ship was compromised and the captain gave the order to abandon ship, NSRI said in a statement. All 23 crew members have been rescued by NSRI helicopter crews. Some hours later, the ship broke in two and has to be considered as a total loss. Efforts are now made to avoid a pollution and to remove the wreck, the bunkers, and the cargo. There are no information about the cause of this failure

Vessel & Interveners 

Location of the casualty

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Story

 25 August 2013 : Department of Environmental Affairs' Coastal Oil Spill Contingency Plan in Place At Richards Bay

PRESS RELEASE
The Department of Environmental Affairs' (DEA) coastal oil spill contingency plan in the Richards Bay area, where a bulk carrier vessel, MV Smart, ran aground last Monday, is firmly in place as efforts to transfer oil from the vessel are set to commence. The contingency plan is to ensure that the environment and health of marine species in the area are protected.
At the moment, no oil spill from the vessel has been reported. As part of the contingency plan, containment booms have been deployed around the vessel to protect the coastline against any possible pollution during the salvage operations. A team comprised of the relevant environmental, disaster management agencies and salvage experts is on standby to boom off the uMlathuze Sanctuary, Richards Bay harbour and near-by estuaries from any possible oil spills.
The department's oil spill aerial surveillance aircraft, Kuswag 9 (K9), will continue to fly over the area to gather information that will be used during the salvage operations. The aircraft will also assist with monitoring and assessment of any possible environmental threat in the area. In addition, the Department has also requested samples of the coal on board to determine the impact it may have on the marine environment.
The uMlathuze Sanctuary is considered important, from both conservation and social perspectives, as it is a breeding and nursery area for important fish species. It also provides a home to over 20 000 birds of various types and is an area that provides life-supporting and recreational benefits. It is for these reasons that the department will do all it takes to ensure that this sanctuary and nearby estuaries are not compromised, particularly during salvage operations.
Plans to pump the oil out of the vessel are at an advanced stage. It is anticipated that the removal of oil from the vessel may take anything between five and seven days, while it may take several months to remove the coal. Furthermore, it is unclear at this stage as to how long it would take for the stricken vessel to be removed.
DEA, along with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and other responding environmental agencies and local authorities are on high alert to provide rapid response in the event of any oil pollution from the vessel.

For media queries contact:
Zolile Nqayi:
Tel: 021 819 2423
Cell: 082 898 6483
Ernest Mulibana
Cell: 082 263 7372
Tel: 021 405 9439
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
25 Aug 2013

21 August 2013 - Gcaptain
It's been just two days since the bulk carrier MV Smart ran aground on a South African beach, but the incident is already being coined as the biggest salvage event in the history of the country.

As gCaptain reported, the 273-meter long bulk carrier ran aground on a sand bar on August 19, 2013 while departing the Port of Richards Bay laden with 147,650 tons of coal. In an emailed statement on 22 August from ship owner spokesperson Pat Adamson, "the Master believed that MV Smart had suffered extensive damages to her hull and steering gear" which led to a loss of steering control immediately outside the breakwater. The result was catastrophic as she ended up snapping in half at around amidships while being battered by waves up to 10 meters.

Adamson notes that "in consultation with Richards Bay harbour authorities, the crew was ordered by the port authorities to abandon the ship" approximately 90 minutes after running aground.

Although severe weather kept salvage crews at bay for most of Tuesday, it seems that effort have began to pick up.

The South African-based maritime services company, Subtech Group, has been hired to head the pollution response and fuel removal along with SMIT, and efforts to mobilize crews and equipment have been ongoing.

In an update from Subtech, the company said that Salvage Master, Neil Scott-Williams is on site with Morgan Castle and a dive team and RHIB which were mobilized Tuesday night. The update said that a Subtech crane truck/barge and the tugs Reier and Teras Hydra are mobilizing today. Meanwhile, the Fairmount Glacier will mobilize out of Cape Town and additional resources are being flown in from Holland by SMIT.

Initial efforts will focus on the fuel and lube oil removal. Reports in the media have indicated that there is estimated 1,769 tons of fuel oil and 129 tons of diesel on board the vessel.

A marine conservation officer from Richards Bay, Kevin Green, told local iOL news earlier Wednesday that although there was no fuel leaking from the ship, some of the ship's payload had begun to shift out.

"There is coal dust coming out of the ship, which our scientists are currently evaluating to assess the threat," Green told the paper. He added the coal did not pose an immediate threat and the main focus will be on keeping the fuel contained.

With any luck the weather will hold out and salvage crews will make quick work of the remaining fuel, cargo and remaining hull from the area. We'll be sure to update as new information comes in.

21 August 2013 - Gcaptain
The MV Smart has fully split in two overnight and authorities are scrambling to put together a plan to offload the fuel oil and cargo from the wreck perched on a sandbar just off a popular surfing beach at Richards Bay, South Africa.
A spokesperson for the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) has said there is an estimated 1,769 tons of fuel oil and 129 tons of diesel on board, but there is no immediate threat of a spill. The salvage will focus on the removal of the fuel first, the spokesperson said.
The ship had just finished loading 147,650 tonnes of coal at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) when she ran aground in 10 meter swells.
The Panamanian-flagged ship is registered to Alpha Marine Corp., Reuters reports. After loading at Richards Bay it was intended to deliver its cargo to a port in China, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Experts from the SA Maritime Safety Authority and salvage company Subtech are currently on board the Smart assessing the situation according to reports.

20 August 2013 - Sea News
The 151,000 dwt bulk carrier MV Smart ran aground on a sandbar Monday in 10 meter swells after departing Port Richards Bay. The vessel had finished loading coal at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) earlier Monday.
Photos of the grounded ship show the hull has suffered structural failure at around amidships and is severely sagging.
The National Sea Rescue Institute was alerted of the grounding at about 1:30 p.m. local time. At approximately 4 p.m., the structural integrity of the ship was compromised and the captain gave the order to abandon ship, NSRI said in a statement.
All 23 crew members have been rescued by NSRI helicopter crews.
A source has told us that the vessel started to break in half and at this point may be in two pieces.
SAMSA (South African Maritime safety Authority) are en route to investigate and begin evaluations for salvage, the NSRI statement said.
A local news report said that the vessel was no longer under pilotage and may have experienced engine failure.
The incident comes just as the bulk carrier Kiani Satu was pulled free from a South African beach this weekend, but is believed to be in danger of sinking in deep water
The ship belongs to Unimar, an Athens based shipping company.

20 August 2013 - News 24
Durban - A coal carrying vessel run aground at the Port of Richards Bay on Monday, Port management said.
"Whilst leaving the Port of Richard's Bay at 14.10 on Monday the vessel MV "Smart", carrying 147 650 tons of coal, ran aground off the Port's entrance channel," Chief Harbour Master Transnet National Ports Authority, Captain Rufus Lekala, said in a statement.
He said the vessel finished loading at Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) at approximately 10.10 on Monday and sailed from the terminal just before 13.30.
At the time of the incident, the vessel was no longer under TNPA pilotage.
It is said the vessel experienced engine failure on leaving the Port.
"Three TNPA tugs tried to assist the vessel but to no avail. The vessel has buckled and broken in two and is partly submerged," he said.
Twenty three crew members, including the Master of the vessel, were airlifted from the vessel by the TNPA helicopter.
TNPA said it was closely monitoring any impact on the environment and there is no anticipated economic impact on the Port of Richards Bay.
"The entrance channel is safe for shipping, however, due to current adverse weather conditions ingress and egress to the port has been suspended until further notice," he said.

Costs

Liabilty Limits

Cause of the casualty

Under investigation

Sources - Links - Reports

Port of Richards Bay

GCaptain

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MOL COMFORT : Scénario improbable mais vrais questionnements

Détails

Catégorie : Sinistres Majeurs

Créé le 23 juin 2013

Nouveau scénario improbable pour véritables interrogations. L'histoire qui se déroule actuellement dans la mer d'Oman est finalemement assez incompréhensible puisque près de 7 ans après le MSC NAPOLI, il semble que tous les enseignements de ce type de catastrophe n'aient pas encore été tirés puisque nous nous retrouvons à nouveau avec un porte conteneur, brisé en deux, dont la poupe et la proue dérivent en pleine tempête.

On pourra sans doute se satisfaire que les deux parties ne coulent pas, laissant une chance aux sauveteurs de ramener le tout à bon port mais cet accident ne rassurera sans doute personne, et notamment les assureurs.

En effet, comment un tel accident peut-il arriver à un navire aussi récent (5 ans), ayant bénéficié de toutes les nouvelles recherches et retours d'expérience  concernant les efforts sur la structure des navires de grande taille (et il ne s'agit pas ici d'un "utlra-géant de plus 13 000, voire 18 000 conteneurs).

Après le MSC CARLA et le MSC NAPOLI, et surement beaucoup d'autres, voici le MOL COMFORT et sa dérive dans la Mer d'Oman. Les opérations de sauvetage actuellement en cours, et si elles réussissent, vont être spectaculaires et nous ne manquerons pas de revenir sur cette fortune de mer. Vous pouvez d'ores et déjà consulter la page que nous lui consacrons en cliquant ici.

Naufrage du MOL COMFORT le 17 juin 2013

Détails

Catégorie : Sinistres Majeurs

Créé le 22 juin 2013

Summary : On the 17 june 2013, while while under way from Singapore to Jeddah on the Indian Ocean (12'30"N 60'E) at about noon JST (07:00 local time) on June 17, 2013 during inclement weather, the MOL-operated containership MOL Comfort suffered a crack amidships and ingressing water in the hold. This made it impossible for the vessel to continue on under its own power. Some of the containers on the vessel were lost overboard or suffered damage during the incident. Details are being confirmed.The damage to the MOL Comfort is extensive, while the 26 crew members took to lifeboats. All were safely rescued by other vessel in the area. A rescue team is appointed with a salvage company to assess the situation and to prepare salvage operations.

Vessel & Interveners 

Location of the casualty

Pictures

Story

23 June 2013 - MOL
TOKYO- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) updates the status of the containership MOL Comfort as of 23:00 JST (18:00 Dubai time) on June 22 , 2013. The vessel could not continue sailing under its own power from June 17 because the hull fractured in 2 parts while under way on the Indian Ocean.
1. Vessel
The fore and aft parts are drifting near 14"52N 65'46"E and 13'29"N 63'27"E respectively in an east-northeast direction. The weather at the site is still adverse. The patrol boat which we have arranged is expected to arrive at the ocean site around June 24.
2. Containers (No change from the Update (No.6))
Some of the containers might be lost or damaged during the incident, but majority of the cargo are confirmed to be aboard the fore and aft part.
3. Rescue of the cargo and hulls
We have contracted with a salvage company and are proceeding to rescue the cargo and hulls. Three tugboats are heading to the site, and two of them are expected to arrive around June 24 while the 3rd one is around June 25.
4. Oil leakage (No change from the Update (No.6))
We confirmed no large volume of oil leakage.

22 June 2013 - MOL
TOKYO- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) updates the status of the containership MOL Comfort as of 23:00 JST (18:00 Dubai time) on June 21, 2013. The vessel could not continue sailing under its own power from June 17 because the hull fractured in 2 parts while under way on the Indian Ocean.
1. Vessel
The fore and aft parts are drifting near 14"35N 64'50"E and 13'22"N 62'48"E respectively in an east-northeast direction. The weather at the site is still adverse. The patrol boat which we have arranged is expected to arrive at the ocean site around June 24.
2. Containers (No change from the Update (No.5))
Some of the containers might be lost or damaged during the incident, but majority of the cargo are confirmed to be aboard the fore and aft part.
3. Rescue of the cargo and hulls
We have contracted with a salvage company and are proceeding to rescue the cargo and hulls. Two tugboats are heading toward the site and are expected to arrive around June 24.
4. Oil leakage (No change from the Update (No.5))
We confirmed no large volume of oil leakage.

21 June 2013 - MOL
TOKYO- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) updates the status of the containership MOL Comfort as of 23:00 JST (18:00 Dubai time) on June 20, 2013. The vessel could not continue sailing under its own power from June 17 because the hull fractured in 2 parts while under way on the Indian Ocean.
1. Vessel
The fore and aft parts are drifting near 14'10"N 63'27"E and 13'13"N 62'05"E respectively in an east-northeast direction. The weather at the site is still adverse. The patrol boat which has departed Port of Jebel Ali, U.A.E. on June 19 is expected to arrive at the ocean site on around June 24.
2. Containers
Some of the containers might be lost or damaged during the incident, but majority of the cargo are confirmed to be aboard the fore and aft part.
[No change on below items 3 and 4 from the Update (No.4) released on June 20]
3. Rescue of the cargo and hulls
We have contracted with a salvage company and are proceeding to rescue the cargo and hulls.
4. Oil leakage
We confirmed no large volume of oil leakage.

20 June 2013 - MOL
TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) updates the status of the containership MOL Comfort as of 23:00 JST (18:00 Dubai time) on June 19, 2013. The vessel could not continue sailing under its own power from June 17 because the hull fractured in 2 parts while under way on the Indian Ocean,

Vessel
The aft part is drifting near 13'00"N 61'29"E in an east-northeast direction. The status of the fore part is to be confirmed while the visibility is limited due to adverse weather. The patrol boat which has departed Port of Jebel Ali, U.A.E. on June 19, as mentioned in the Update (No.3), is expected to arrive at the ocean site on June 24.
Containers
Some of the containers might be lost or damaged during the incident, but majority of the cargo are confirmed to be aboard the aft part. The status of the fore part is to be confirmed.
Rescue of the cargo and hulls
We have contracted with a salvage company and are proceeding to rescue the cargo and hulls.
Oil leakage
We confirmed no large volume of oil leakage.

19 June 2013 - MOL
TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) reports that the containership MOL Comfort could not continue sailing under its own power because the hull fractured in two parts while under way on the Indian Ocean. At about 10:00 JST (05:00 local time) on June 19, 2013, two parts, fore and aft, laden with containers are drifting at about 2 knots near 12'57"N 61'10"E (the aft) (the central part of the Indian Ocean) in an east-northeast direction.
Today, we arranged a patrol boat which has already departed from Port of Jebel Ali, U.A.E. to monitor the state of the vessel and the cargo and for the preparation of tow operations. The boat is expected to arrive at the ocean site on 23rd if it goes smoothly. In parallel, we are arranging tugboats to tow the MOL Comfort.
In addition, we have started investigating the cause of the incident jointly with the vessel's shipbuilder, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
In the afternoon yesterday (JST), according to a report from our-operated vessel, which passed nearby the site, the MOL Comfort was stably floating even under adverse weather. It has not been acknowledged that fire has occurred nor a large volume of oil has leaked. All crew members were safely rescued when the incident occurred.

18 June 2013 - MOL
TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) reports that the containership MOL Comfort could not continue sailing under its own power because the hull suffered a crack amidships while under way on the Indian Ocean. The vessel was fractured in two parts, fore and aft.
At about noon JST on Tuesday, June 18 (07:00 local time), the fore part of the hull is drifting around 13'00"N 60'40"E, and the aft part is about 19 miles southwest from that point. At present, both parts of the ship are laden with containers and drifting in an east-northeast direction. We are also arranging tugboats to tow both parts.
There are no indications as yet of a major oil leak near the site.
Details of onboard containers of the MOL Comfort that might be lost overboard or damaged during the incident are being confirmed.

17 Juin 2013 - MOL
TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) reports that the MOL-operated containership MOL Comfort, while under way from Singapore to Jeddah on the Indian Ocean (12'30"N 60'E) at about noon JST (07:00 local time) on June 17, 2013 during inclement weather, suffered a crack amidships and ingressing water in the hold. This made it impossible for the vessel to continue on under its own power.

Some of the containers on the vessel were lost overboard or suffered damage during the incident. Details are being confirmed.The damage to the MOL Comfort is extensive, while the 26 crew members took to lifeboats. All were safely rescued by other vessel in the area.

MOL immediately set up the Emergency Control Headquarters (headed by President Koichi Muto) for the incident, and is taking company-wide measures necessary to settle the matter properly.

Costs

Liabilty Limits

Cause of the casualty

Under investigation

Sources - Links - Reports

MOL

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