Salvors are close to ending further oil spills from a grounded bulker in the Solomon Islands.
They have removed 230 tonnes of bunkers from the 74,000-dwt Solomon Trader (built 1994), according to the vessel’s protection and indemnity insurer Korea P&I.
Lightering of the fuel oil from the stricken bulker began Sunday, it said, following the arrival of a tank barge brought in from Vanuatu. Korea P&I said the operation to take fuel off the vessel is scheduled to be completed “in the coming days.”
The vessel, owned by Hong Kong company King Trader, was estimated to have around 700 tonnes of bunkers on board when it grounded.
Although Korea P&I admitted more than the originally estimated 70 tonnes of fuel has escaped into the surrounding sea, it said the oil spill has been dramatically reduced with fuel oil transferred to higher tanks.
The vessel has grounded close to a UNESCO world heritage site.
“Pumping and skimming operations in the flooded engine room have collected remaining oil from damaged tanks that had been leaking to the ocean through a hull breach. This has resulted in mitigation of escaping oil over the past two weeks," it said.
"Only minor residual amounts have been detected entering the water since. The wreck’s stern is surrounded by oil spill containment booms.”
It also added that the oil that has spilled is being naturally dispersed and broken down by wave action. The pollution is being independently assessed by the International Oil Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF).
Experts on site
Salvage company Resolve Marine has been appointed by Korea P&I. It now has 30 salvage experts on site with specialist salvage equipment to tackle the incident.
Korea P&I said the salvage operation continues to be hampered by the remote and hazardous location.
But in the statement it said: “KP&I and King Trader are working with local communities to help them understand the difficult, dangerous and time-consuming nature of the operation which must be guided by ongoing assessments that take time to complete.
“As is the case with all major maritime salvage responses, flexibility is required so the response teams can adapt to multiple variables including weather and tidal activity, the interchange of equipment and other setbacks. Resolve was selected to handle the response, given that it is a specialist and reputable organisation capable of working towards the best possible outcomes.”
Solomon Trader, loaded with nearly 11,000 tonnes of bauxite, initially grounded on to a reef during an unexpected gale on 5 February.
