The Abeilles International Salvage crew successfully carries out the assistance operation on the freighter Artemis
Paris, March 20th, 2008, Pdf version
© Atlantique French Navy
Abeilles International announces the success of the assistance operation conducted starting on March 10, 2008 after the freighter Artemis ran aground on the beach of Sables d’Olonne.
Backed by 25 years of experience in salvage and assistance, the Salvage Team of Les Abeilles International, a BOURBON subsidiary, successfully carried out this delicate operation in complete safety under extremely difficult conditions.
Thus, this afternoon at 3:45, under the Salvage Team’s intervention plan, involving the coordination at sea of the Abeille Languedoc and the Alcyon, these two vessels of the BOURBON fleet chartered by the French Navy to protect the French coastline, were able to get the freighter back into the water.
Christian Quillivic, Managing Director of Les Abeilles International, says, "
This salvage operation is the sixth one since the start of the year. It was carried out with all the seriousness and professionalism that are vital to success, and under optimum safety conditions, while respecting people, the environment and the equipment. This particularly delicate mission was carried out successfully thanks to the shared commitment of the crews of the Abeille Languedoc and the Alcyon, of our Salvage crew and the specialists whose support we have enlisted. We can be justly proud of a job well done at Sables d’Olonne."
High degree of responsiveness
As soon as the wreck of the Artemis occurred on March 10, 2008, at 7:45 a.m., the Maritime Prefecture called in the salvage tug, the Abeille Languedoc, which immediately reported to the site from the port of la Rochelle.
An assistance agreement was signed between the Artemis shipowner and Les Abeilles International; the salvage and assistance system was put in place and on that very evening, every part of the salvage system was on site and ready to act: i.e. the Salvage crew, vessels, materials and equipment from Le Havre. The Salvage Crew made permanent changes in the salvage plan, which in turn led to changes in the system, with, in particular, backup provided on site by the Alcyon, another vessel in the BOURBON fleet charted by the French Navy.
A Complex operation carried out under harsh weather conditions
After the initial analyses and surveys done on the day of the wreck, the decision was made to conduct an emergency refloating procedure focusing on the assistance opportunities possible under a wide range of weather and tidal conditions.
On the bank, "pools" were dug around the hull using onshore mechanical equipment in order to cut down on the friction and free the freighter from the sand.
On March 11 and 12, after 3 attempts to tow the freighter, in short intervals between each high tide, the crew was able to establish different riggings and to move the hull noticeably toward the sea, despite extremely harsh weather conditions – 8 force winds on the Beaufort scale, surges of 4 to 6 meters and waves crashing onto the beach.
On March 13, the 50 m3 of diesel in the freighter’s hold were pumped out, thereby preventing any risk of pollution. In addition, protective measures were approved to preserve the integrity and the safety of the vessel.
Given the unfavorable weather forecast for the coming days, the Salvage Master of the Abeilles International Salvage unit decided to respond as early as today at 3:45 p.m.
Facilitated by the deep and extensive sinking basin (nearly one hundred meters around the freighter), which was dug on the starboard side of the vessel so as to be able to rotate it, a maneuver was performed by the Abeille Languedoc in front (a pull capacity of 160 tons) and the Alcyon in back (a pull capacity of 65 tons), freeing the Artemis and refloating it under optimum conditions.
The Salvage crew inspected the freighter for integrity and water-tightness before allowing it to be towed by the Alcyon to the port of La Rochelle, under escort by the Abeille Languedoc, for redelivery to its shipowner.
Efficient crew and coordination
The initial Abeilles International Salvage Unit, which included 5 professionals under the leadership of Charles Claden, Senior Salvage Master of Les Abeilles International has been gradually beefed up so that it now includes nearly 15 experts, including a team specializing in refloating calculations belonging to Smit Salvage, a subcontractor with which Les Abeilles International customarily works.
In addition to maritime assistance, the Salvage Unit also coordinated the onshore teams and the different local response teams, such as the fire-fighters and line handlers of the Port of Sables d’Olonne, in full cooperation with the French Navy, as well as local and regional agencies.
"
We analyzed the situation on-site and responded with specialized personnel and substantial resources enabling us to work on the best possible safety conditions, in order to protect people and avoid any pollution. The towing was made possible by the combined pull capacity of 2 tugs used for refloating, which were crucial in the success of this operation,"
says Charles Claden, Senior Salvage Master of Les Abeilles International.