CAROLINE BEZENGI
Die letzten Häfen
Die letzten Wegpunkte
Die neuesten Nachrichten
Oil loss brought to a halt
The salvage operation at the 'Caroline Bezengi' to recover its remaining cargo appears to have achieved its first major success. Even the slight traces of oil that were leaking from the wreck last week appeared to have disappeared, on the basis of analysis of satellite imagery covering the scene on Oct 26. Wind and sea state had been perfect for salvage operations with light seas, a wind speed of 2.34 m/s blowing to the northwest, and with a moderate swell, and the prevailing conditions looked set for the coming week. The oil leakage was likely to have been brought under control by pumping oil out of leaking tanks into those on board that were still intact. Oil pumps had been dropped off onto the deck of the tanker by a helicopter of the Royal Air Force of Oman.The wreck remained firmly stuck on the rocks off the southwest tip of Jazirat Al Qibliyyah, having been hit while off the coast of Yemen on June 8 by what was believed to have been a limpet mine attack. The shadow fleet tanker was sanctioned by the EU, the UK, and the US (OFAC), and had had a past association with Russian state shipowner Sovcomflot.
Calmer weather may enable lighter tanker to approach wreck
It appeared that the salvage activity on the 'Caroline Bezengi' was continuing, where the wreck remained firmly stuck on the rocks off the southwest tip of Jazirat Al Qibliyyah. The tanker was sanctioned by the EU, UK and US (OFAC), and has a past association with Russian state shipowner Sovcomflot, when a suspected limpet-mine blast occurred on June 8 enroute from Novorossiysk to Gujarat in loaden condition. The crew was taken off on June 12 by another sanctioned and Russian-connected dark fleet tanker, the 'Noble Walker' (IMO: 9292981), which was also en route to India with Russian oil aboard. The abandoned 'Caroline Bezengi' drifted in northeasterly direction with the monsoon winds until finally running aground on June 30. Wind speeds on Oct 8 were reported as a comparatively light 11 knots. Swells were less than one meter and were expected to remain so for the following week. These conditions were expected to enable operations on the deck of the tanker, and may enable the next phase of the salvage plan, maneuvering a small tanker close in to the lee of the island to start the offloading of the remaining fuel on board the half-submerged ship. Report with photo: https://maritime-executive.com/article/calm-seas-favor-salvage-operations-at-shadow-fleet-tanker-wreck-off-oman
Oil recovery work has commenced
The operation to recover the cargo of crude still on board the 'Caroline Bezengi' off the southwest tip of Jazirat Al Qibliyyah, has commenced within the last few days, as recent satellite imagery of the wreck showed no other vessels in the vicinity. The high winds and rough seas common during the Khareef period in this area off the southern coast of Oman have abated, allowing the operation to proceed. The 'EDT Kennedy' (IMO: 9671400) and the 'Astro Sculptor' (IMO 1091599), a vessel associated with Mola Marine Services LLC, an Omani diving and underwater services based in Shinas, were on scene. Pump machinery was winched by helicopter off the 'EDT Kennedy' and onto the tanker's stern. A floating heavy gauge rubber pipe was hauled from the 'EDT Kennedy' towards the 'Caroline Bezengi', in line with the original salvage plan to run a 1,000-meter line to a tanker moored in the island's sheltered northwestern lee. No tanker for receiving the oil was in the area. The salvor’s main initial priority may be to move oil from one tank to another on board the ship to stabilise it, protect the hull and prevent further listing. An NH90 provided by the Royal Air Force of Oman assisted with the lift of pumps from the 'EDT Kennedy' onto the 'Caroline Bezengi'. Although there originally had been an intention to establish a forward operating base on the small port and airfield of the main Halliniyat Island which lies 25 nautical miles to the west of Al Qibliyyah, the mainland port of Duqm now seemed to be the principal base for the operation ashore. The forecast for the next week showed that average wind speeds would rarely exceed 20 knots. The oil plume leaking from the 'Caroline Bezengi' over the last week appeared to show a reduced flow of oil, suggesting that previously breached tanks were now leaking at a lower rate. Report with photos: https://maritime-executive.com/article/exclusive-salvage-operation-under-way-at-tanker-wreck-site-off-oman
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