Nippon Salvage has been awarded a wreck removal contract to remove the stranded stern section of a Doun Kisen-owned bulk carrier off the north-east coast of Japan.
The fully laden 49,549-dwt Crimson Polaris (built 2006), operated by NYK Line, grounded outside the port of Hachinohe in August before breaking in two.
The forward section floated free and has now been secured at the port of Hachinohe.
However, the stern section remains aground along with an estimated 8,327 tonnes of woodchips.
The vessel's technical manager, Japan's Misuga Ship Management, said that after a tender Nippon Salvage has been selected to carry out the cargo recovery and wreck removal operation.
Nippon Salvage had already been involved in the job to remove fuel oil from the stern of the wreck, which was completed at the end of September.
It has now begun the job of removing cargo from the seabed, and the salvage company is hoping to complete the job by the end of this year.
The cargo waste is being disposed of at Ohu Clean Technology based in Hachinohe.
The cargo recovery will be followed by the removal of the remaining wreck from the site.
Costly job
The salvage operation is likely to be expensive for the ship's protection and indemnity insurer the Japan P&I Club.
The mutual will be fully on the hook for the wreck removal, and clean-up costs, and could also be liable for the loss of the full cargo of woodchip.
The majority of the claim will almost certainly be settled through the International Group of P&I Clubs' insurance pool, which splits the costs of claims over $10m between its 13 club members.
