The wreck removal of a handysize bulk carrier off the coast of Gibraltar has finally been completed after it was hoised onto a heavy lift ship 10 months after the vessel grounded.
The two sections of the broken hull of the 35,362-dwt OS 35 (built 1990) have been placed on top of the semi-submersible vessel Fjord, by Dutch salvage company Koole Contractors.
Surveys of the seabed are scheduled from today to ensure that the wreck site of the OS 35 is completely cleared.
“Once these are concluded the operation will draw to a close,” the Gibraltar Port Authority said.
An end-of-May deadline was set by the Gibraltar government to complete the wreck removal operation which has been hit by several delays.
The Gibraltar Port Authority said some residues have been released during the final operation but have been collected into a protective boom placed around the vessel.
The hull sections will remain in Gibraltar waters for the next two weeks as they are “sea fastened” to the Fjord ahead of shipment for recycling in the Netherlands.
The port of Gibraltar was advised on the salvage operation by consultancy Marine Masters. “Our operational review of the salvage activities ensured that the feasibility of the planned salvage works was sound and without incident, prioritising timely, effective and safe operations with the goal of minimising commercial impact to operations in the port," said salvage master Eric Houtteman.
“The success of this complex operation is a testament to the hard work and detailed planning that has been integral to the wreck removal operation throughout,” said the port captain, John Ghio.
The OS 35 was deliberately grounded off Gibraltar after it had become involved in a collision with the 165,000-cbm gas carrier Adam LNG (built 2014) which was at anchor in August last year.
The vessel was insured by British Marine and QBE.
