Resolve Salvage & Fire Begins Removal of Wrecks at Kankesanthurai Harbor, Sri Lanka

Following an agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka, RESOLVE Salvage and Fire (Asia) Pte Ltd.(RESOLVE),  a subsidiary of U.S. - based RESOLVE Marine Group, Inc., has commenced the removal of six vessel wrecks that were sunk  in Kankesanthurai Harbor (KKS) between 1994 and 1996 during the LTTE  conflict.  Situated on the northern coast of Sri Lanka, the Harbour was badly damaged in the conflict and has since been closed for commercial activity. The Government of India (GOI) has taken responsibility for rehabilitation of the KKS Harbour and has provided grant funding for the initial stages. 

RESOLVE, a global marine salvage and emergency response company, was awarded the contract for the wreck removal work by Shipping Corporation of India, the administrator of the project on behalf of the GOI.  The six wrecks range in size from 17m to 99.5m and are  either fully or partially submerged, obstructing safe access to, and transit within the harbor.  The operation will require not only the removal of wrecks but use of state-of-the-art, 3-D image scanning equipment which will identify all obstructions within a 500-meter radius of each wreck, thus ensuring removal of wreck debris in preparation for dredging of the Harbour and channel.  Two wrecks are outside the Harbour, four are within the Harbour.

KKS Inauguration Lamp Lighting
(L-R) Hon. Douglas Devananda, Minister of Traditional Industries,
and Small Enterprises Development;
Mr. Joseph Farrell Jr. President, RESOLVE Marine Group;
Hon. Basil Rajapakse, Minister of Economic Development.

RESOLVE has mobilized a team of expert personnel and equipment to cut up the vessels and move the wreckage ashore, where the scrap will be disposed of, clearing the Harbour in preparation for dredging operations and further rehabilitation.  At a ceremony marking the commencement of the job at Kankesanthurai  Harbour on July 26th, RESOLVE Marine Group President Joseph E. Farrell, Jr. said,  “We are honored to be a member of the team and are committed to rapid completion of the first phase wreck 

Initial operation to remove vessels from Kankesanthurai Harbour