Salvage & Oil Spill Response
Rennell Island | Solomon Islands
Resolve Marine was contracted to safely remove a bulk carrier after it grounded on a coral reef in Kangava Bay, Rennell Island, part of the Solomon Islands. Loaded with more than 10,000 metric tons of bauxite and an estimated 100 tons of fuel oil, the vessel came to rest adjacent to the world's largest raised coral atoll and UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its pristine beaches and endemic marine life. While salvage teams mobilized to the remote location, Cyclone ORMA passed directly over the casualty, causing heavy fuel oil to leak from the vessel and expanding Resolve Marine's scope to include a comprehensive oil spill response and shoreline cleanup operation.Response assets were mobilized from the United States, Australia, and Singapore to Honiara before being repackaged and transported to Rennell Island. The island's limited infrastructure, amenities, and resources created significant logistical challenges, requiring coordinated management and operational support from Rennell Island, Honiara, and Brisbane. The vessel's engine room and cargo holds were fully flooded through hull breaches measuring up to four meters in length, creating complex engineering and environmental challenges.
Working closely with the Solomon Islands Government, Resolve Marine developed and executed a strategy to lighter cargo and fuel, refloat the vessel, contain and recover spilled oil, and remediate impacted shorelines. Oil response crews deployed nearly 12,000 feet of boom and sorbent materials, while offshore skimming vessels recovered floating product with support from drone-directed operations. Shoreline Assessment Cleanup Technique (SCAT) surveys guided cleanup priorities, enabling teams to pressure wash contaminated limestone, flush sandy and rocky shorelines, remove oiled debris, and train and employ local residents in manual cleanup efforts.
Along heavily impacted sections of shoreline, teams removed weathered oil from beneath hundreds of stranded logs, recovering reusable timber for export while responsibly managing contaminated waste through overseas treatment and disposal facilities.
After four months of operating in harsh and remote conditions, Resolve Marine successfully refloated the casualty, completed temporary repairs, and safely towed the vessel to deeper water for transport to Singapore, while simultaneously restoring affected coastal environments through a comprehensive spill response and cleanup program.
