Collision & Ship-to-Ship Transfer
Singapore Straits | Singapore
Two fully laden, capesize bulk carriers were involved in a collision in Singapore Strait, after which they remained stationary and thereafter drifted SW while remaining locked together.Resolve Marine was immediately contracted to provide salvage services by mobilizing personnel and marine assets to both vessels. The vessels were successfully separated later that day, allowing two distinct salvage operations to proceed.
One of the bulk carriers proceeded to an anchorage off Indonesia for damage assessment. Following the required inspections and liaising with the Class, it was determined that the bulker, although having sustained damages in her forward section, could proceed by own means to its destination in China.
The more extensive response centered on the bulk carrier carrying 200,000 MT of iron ore as the collision resulted in water ingress into No. 4 port water ballast tank and Cargo Hold No. 6.
Resolve’s salvage team, following the separation, stabilized the casualty and developed a safe recovery plan.
The vessel was brought to an anchorage off Malaysia, where Resolve coordinated a major ship-to-ship (STS) lightering operation. The receiving transshipment bulk carrier was brought alongside in early June, and cargo transfer commenced. Working around the clock, Resolve undertook the complex STS operation while continuously monitoring the casualty and refining the discharge sequence as necessary. Despite challenging weather and operational difficulties, the operation was safely completed with roughly 78,000 MT of iron ore transshipped.
Following the above initial phase, Resolve shifted the damaged bulk carrier to a different port within Malaysia where the vessel was under continuous monitoring, and the remaining sound cargo was discharged.
The final phase required recovery of wet and damaged iron ore from flooded Cargo Hold No. 6, using pumping, dewatering and excavator operations.
By the end of July, all remaining cargo had been recovered and on July 24, the vessel departed for repairs in China, with Resolve personnel remaining onboard to monitor the vessel during her onward voyage.
Spanning more than two months, this response demonstrated Resolve Marine's ability to rapidly mobilize across the region and manage a complex casualty from emergency stabilization and separation through engineering, lightering, cargo recovery and safe onward transit.
