SHIPWRECK RESCUE DRAMA

Smit Pentow Marine Press Release Monday October 29th 2001, 09h15
'Ikan Tanda' Update Number 45

On the evening of Saturday 27th October, the 'Ikan Tanda' was scuttled in a position approximately 200 miles west of Cape Town, finally sinking at 20h30. This followed the declaration of the casualty by Owners and their representatives on Friday afternoon as a 'Constructive Total Loss' (CTL). Salvors Smit Pentow Marine continued with preparations to scuttle the bulk carrier during the day on Saturday, which included cutting holes in strategic places aboard the vessel, removing all floatable gear including liferafts and opening the necessary valves.

The 'Wolraad Woltemade' remained at the location overnight on Saturday to monitor oil and debris. Reports received indicate that there continues to be no sign of oil from the sunken casualty, although a floating hatch cover had been reported. The 'Wolraad Woltemade' remained on site until this morning, when the hatch cover was finally sunk. The salvage tug is presently en route Cape Town.

Smit Pentow Marine Press Release Friday October 26th 2001, 09h00
'Ikan Tanda' Update Number 44

Following the successful refloating of the 'Ikan Tanda' at 03h00 on the morning of Wednesday 17th October, she remains under tow in convoy with the 'Wolraad Woltemade'.

Earlier this week, salvors Smit Pentow Marine were advised that - in light of the fact that the 'Ikan Tanda' has not been permitted by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to enter any South African port for repair - a period of 5 days had been given in which to terminate the contract awarded to salvors when the 'Ikan Tanda' ran aground. Preparations for this phase of the operation began immediately and the team began removing the numerous items of salvage equipment aboard the vessel used in refloating and cargo removal operations. However, a substantial amount of salvage equipment remains on board.

Yesterday afternoon, worsening conditions aboard the 'Ikan Tanda' necessitated the evacuation of all personnel from the vessel by helicopter. This was due to a number of factors including that of the cranes on board having lost their hydraulic seals, causing the crane booms to swing and their traveling blocks to become 'loose', making the main deck area hazardous to personnel. Overnight, No. 5 crane collapsed and is now lying across the deck.

At present, the 'Wolraad Woltemade' continues to tow the 'Ikan Tanda' offshore and members of the salvage team shall reboard the casualty once she is 200 nautical miles form the coast so as to reassess the situation.

Smit Pentow Marine Press Release Tuesday October 15th 2001, 11h00
'Ikan Tanda' Update Number 41

This morning the Smit Pentow Marine salvage team aboard the 'Ikan Tanda', the crews aboard the 'Pentow Skua' and 'Wolraad Woltemade' and their office and shore-based colleagues were gearing up for the final phase of the refloating operation with respect to the grounded 'Ikan Tanda'. At 06h30 this morning, the de-ballasting of the casualty began, involving the pumping off of thousands of tonnes of seawater taken on to the vessel to stabilize her during cargo discharge operations.

The salvage tug 'Wolraad Woltemade' is connected to the bow wire on the 'Ikan Tanda' - having connected at first light this morning and the Anchor Handler 'Pentow Skua' remained connected to the stern wire of the casualty overnight. Following the transportation of additional spare generator capacity to the 'Ikan Tanda' last night, the launch 'Sea Carrier' is on stand-by in Schuster Bay, along with the launch 'Ocean Pride' and the Coastwatch oil pollution abatement and control vessel. All will remain on stand-by during the refloating operation and will be available to assist if necessary. The oil pollution patrol aircraft 'Kuswag VII' overflew the scene this morning and will be flying over the location during the refloating operation this afternoon.

Over the course of the past few weeks, Salvors have been able to gather an accurate picture of the state of the vessel by means of survey, including her structural integrity, grounding forces acting on her, as well as the exact nature of the seabed in the area in which she is presently located. This information has been factored in to the Smit Pentow refloating plan.

Should the refloating operation be successful, the priority of the Salvors once the casualty has been stabilized in deep water is the removal of the remaining pollutants, which would include the approximately 20 tonnes of oil trapped in the wedges in Number 5 and 6 starboard double bottom tanks. Specialised hot-tapping equipment is onboard the 'Ikan Tanda' and could be utilised in this operation. The Coastwatch oil pollution control and abatement vessel will remain on site throughout the entire operation

Precautionary measures have already been put in place to maintain the structural integrity of the 'Ikan Tanda' once refloated. A helicopter will be on stand-by to evacuate the casualty of all personnel should this become necessary.

Smit Pentow Marine Press Release Wednesday October 17th 2001, 07h40
'Ikan Tanda' Update Number 42

Success was achieved by the Smit Pentow Marine salvage team with respect to the refloating of the 'Ikan Tanda' in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The bulk carrier, grounded 300 metres off Scarborough beach since Wednesday September 5th, was successfully refloated at 03h00 and was towed out to sea by the salvage tug 'Wolraad Woltemade' and the 'Pentow Skua'. She is now approximately 9 miles out and will continue to be towed away from the coast. As previously stated, the priority of the Salvors is to stabilise the casualty in deep water.

The successful conclusion to the refloating phase of the operation marks the end of 6 long weeks during which time the oil aboard the 'Ikan Tanda' was removed and approximately 12 000 tonnes of cargo discharged (including Potassium Nitrate, Potassium Sulphate and Potassium Chloride). Yesterday, the deballasting (removal of seawater taken on to the 'Ikan Tanda' to stabilize her during the cargo discharge operation) phase of the refloating operation was hampered by the 'Ikan Tanda' taking a 25 degree list to starboard, which caused the generators and hydraulic power packs to trip and interrupted deballasting. Despite this, and with the aid of the salvage tug 'Wolraad Woltemade', she was moved 30 degrees to starboard on yesterday afternoon's high tide and also moved a distance of 40 metres further away from Scarborough Beach. Once the situation had been stabilized, deballasting continued throughout the night and she was refloated successfully on the next high tide.

SMIT PENTOW MARINE

has pleasure in inviting you to attend a celebratory function with respect to the successful refloating of the 'Ikan Tanda'.

Date: Friday 19th October
Time: from 16h00 onwards
Venue: Scarborough Community Centre

A cash bar will be available for drinks and we look forward to seeing you then!

Any queries in this regard can be directed to Clare du Plooy-Gomes of Smit Pentow Marine on 507-5777.

Please note that residents of Scarborough and Misty Cliffs only are invited to attend and this function will not be open to the general public.

ARCHIVE PAGES:
VIEW PREVIOUS UPDATE
Archive DAY 1: Running aground of IkanTanda on 05 September 2001
You can view the entire story by following links you will find from the above pages.

>>IN THIS UPDATE:
>>IKAN TANDA SCUTTLED 200KM OFF COAST
>>PRESS RELEASE FROM SALVORS: IKAN TANDA DAMAGED,
>>PERSONNEL EVACUATED - POSTED FRIDAY 26.10.2001
>>REFLOATING STARTS ON SPRING HIGH TIDE: TUES 15h00
>>SALVOR'S ANNOUNCE REFLOATING PLANS
>>SALVOR'S ANNOUNCE SUCCESSFUL REFLOATING
>>SALVOR'S CELEBRATION PARTY - INVITATION TO LOCALS