Salvors Refloat Grounded Vessels in Scheldt

On April 10, the Swedish-flag ro-ro/car carrier Grande Argentina ran aground off Terneuzen. The vessel, operated by Grimaldi Lines, was enroute from Antwerp when it suffered a complete black-out, ironically within view of Multraship’s headquarters in Terneuzen. Having swung hard to starboard, the vessel grounded on a sandbank.

Working together, salvage teams from Multraship and URS mobilised a total of nine tugs and salvage craft to refloat the vessel in a quick and efficient operation. The salvors then escorted the vessel to Flushing, where an inspection revealed no structural damage, and the Grande Argentina was cleared to proceed with its voyage.

On April 15, the same salvors came to the assistance of the Russian general cargo vessel Aleksandrov which, outward-bound from Antwerp with a cargo of steel and machinery parts, grounded on the ebb tide. Although the salvors responded immediately, it was not possible to refloat the vessel on the same tide. But the salvors, mobilising four tugs under an LOF agreement, righted the vessel in the early hours of April 16, and escorted it to Flushing, where a diving inspection revealed no serious damage.

•Multraship draws on more than ninety years of experience in the salvage and towage industries. Its core operations include salvage, wreck removal, harbour towage, coastal and deep-sea towage, services to the dredging and offshore industries and support for inland navigation. It operates and manages a fleet of thirty-one tugs, salvage vessels, floating sheerlegs and other craft equipped with modern towage, salvage and fire-fighting equipment and manned by experienced and highly-trained masters and crew. http://www.multraship.com

•URS is the main Belgian towage company, employing more than 500 people and operating a fleet of more than forty tugs. URS offers harbour towage in the ports of Antwerp, Ghent, Terneuzen, Flushing, Zeebrugge and Ostend, coastal, sea and ocean towage and assistance to offshore installations, salvage and wreck removal, environmental protection and marine pollution response, maritime contracting and diving operations. http://www.urs.be

For more information contact:
Eline Muller
Multraship Salvage B.V.
Tel. +31 (0) 115 645 000
[email protected]

Issued by:
Chris Hewer
Merlin Corporate Communications
Tel. +44 (0) 1293 55 00 44
[email protected]