Salvage World Q2 2021

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INTERNATIONAL SALVAGE UNION

July 2021

ISU member tackles another devastating containership fire Containership fires have become an increasing concern for shipowners, insurers and salvors and the recent high profile case off Sri Lanka has again highlighted the issue and brought it to much wider public attention as the incident was widely reported by international media. The container vessel X-PRESS PEARL was at anchor off Colombo when smoke was seen coming from one of the forward cargo holds. This situation developed into an open fire which initially the local authorities tried to control and extinguish. Subsequently, ISU member Smit Salvage was contracted by the shipowner to provide immediate assistance and additional firefighting capacity was quickly engaged and a salvage team and equipment were mobilised. Smit described the situation on site as “very dynamic and unpredictable” which was also demonstrated by an unforeseen and heavy explosion of cargo in the aft part of the vessel, which led to the immediate evacuation of the crew and salvage team at night and under difficult conditions. Two crew members were injured during the evacuation and all crew and the salvage team underwent medical assessments and received treatment where needed. With continued unfavorable weather and sea conditions, the firefighting efforts were hampered and the fire spread, engulfing the entire vessel in flames. After more than a week of firefighting, the fire was under control and the salvage team re-boarded the casualty to assess the situation. Unfortunately,

her condition was very poor and she sank soon after. Efforts to minimise pollution emanating from the vessel are continuing amid concern about the possibility of pollution. The incident also again raised the question of places of refuge for it was reported that permission had previously been denied to the vessel to unload at middle eastern ports containers that were leaking chemicals. In the same period, Smit also assisted the container vessel INTERASIA CATALYST which reported containers on fire whilst at the anchorage of Port Klang, Malaysia.

A team and crane barge were mobilised and the fire-affected containers were offloaded onto barges and brought ashore for processing and disposal. This enabled the hatches to be lifted off to further inspect the cargo holds. Subsequently, the unaffected offloaded containers were lifted back onboard so that the vessel could resume her voyage.

ISU 2020 salvage industry statistics show weaker revenues ISU has published its statistics for 2020: • Gross revenue for ISU members - US$ 301 million (2019, US$ 482 million) • 182 services provided (2019, 216 services) • Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) - 40 cases

(2019, 35). LOF revenue up at US$ 60 million (2019, US$ 49 million) • Wreck removal income significantly down – US$ 98 million from 52 services (2019, US$ 284 million from 101 services) Photo: Action Press / Shutterstock

ISU President, Richard Janssen, said: “The 2020 ISU statistics show a 38 per 1

cent fall in the income received by our members compared with the previous year. It is the dramatic fall in wreck removal income that stands out - a 65 per cent drop. In recent years, wreck removal income has represented roughly 50 per cent of our members’ income but in 2020 it accounted for just under 33 per cent. Continues page 2


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