Chinese state-controlled salvor China Rescue & Salvage looks set to win the contract to remove the stranded stern of the 203,000-dwt bulk carrier Wakashio (built 2007) from the Mauritius coastline with a promise it will be removed by Christmas.
The stern section was left aground after the forward section broke away and was eventually scuttled at sea.
According to sources familiar with the wreck removal tender, one of the companies from China Rescue's stable of regional salvors are in final discussions for the job.
Guangzhou Salvage, Yantai Salvage and Shanghai Salvage are all part of the China Rescue group of salvage companies.
It is understood the Chinese bid involves removing the Wakashio wreck using a floating crane barge.
The bid has come up against tough opposition from the likes of Smit Salvage, a part of the Boskalis Group, Nippon Salvage, Resolve Maritime and others.
China Rescue is understood to have been ready to accept all the terms and conditions laid down by insurers and local authorities.
Gone by Christmas
Another key factor making China Rescue a favourite to win the deal is a promise that it can remove the wreck by Christmas as requested by the government of Mauritius.
That will give the salvor less than two months to complete the job, even if it can get all its crew and equipment and men on site by November.
However, seasonal weather conditions will make that a very difficult task to achieve, according to salvage experts.
The wreck is located in an environmentally sensitive area that is exposed to strong wind and wave movements.
November and December will present the region’s most challenging sea conditions for salvors to operate.
Covid-related considerations have also been severely hampering other wreck removal operations and causing significant delay.
Attempts by Shanghai Salvage, one of the China Rescue salvage companies, to remove the wreck of Lomar Shipping’s 2,194-teu containership Kea Trader (built 2017) from Durand Reef in the South Pacific have also been delayed by the pandemic, as well as difficult weather conditions.
More challenging than the Kea Trader
Some suggest that the sea conditions around the Wakashio could be even more challenging than the Kea Trader.
The Kea Trader wreck removal contract was signed in 2018 but the project is still ongoing and up to 18 months away from completion.
In a separate development, salvors' attempts to remove the wreck of the 7,700-ceu car carrier Golden Ray (built 2017) from the port of Brunswick in the US have hit further delays.
The operation had been put on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic after several salvage workers became infected.
Now the St Simmons Incident Response has reported that there are technical difficulties with the anchor mooring system of the heavylift vessel that has been brought in for cutting and lifting operations.
The issue is delaying the wreck removal further.
In a statement, it said that the Unified Command — which is in charge of the wreck removal — is “reviewing multiple options for a revised anchor system and will make a decision that ensures the safety of responders and the public, safeguards the surrounding environment as well as provides for the continuation of commerce in the port".
