Smit Salvage has been awarded the contract to salvage the wreck of a deepwater pipe-layer which capsized over the weekend.
The 147-metre Star Centurion (built 2002) was involved in a collision with Pertamina’s 40,000-dwt Antea (built 200) off the Indonesian island of Bintan.
The Star Centurion is described as lying on its side on a sandbank in a near submerged condition.
Smit officials declined to comment on the salvage contract citing client confidentiality clauses.
Salvage sources in Singapore say that the Smit is teaming up with Indonesian partners for the project as the vessel is within Indonesian territorial waters.
Vessel tracking websites indicate that the Indonesian-flagged anchor handlers Pacific Valour (built 2009) and Swiber Anna (built 2007), vessels belonging to the Indonesian subsidiaries of Singapore –based Swire Pacific Offshore and Vallianz Offshore Marine, have been stationed at the wreck site.
In a statement released to the Stock Exchange of Singapore late last night, Vallianz Offshore, which managed the Star Centurion on behalf of the receivers of its registered owner, Trevaskis Ltd, said that the ship had been anchored at the time the collision took place.
The Antea struck the ship on its port side.
A Singapore-based Salvage source suggests that the Smit will likely salvage the wreck using the parbuckling method before refloating it. The method is commonly used when raising capsized vessels.
Its most notable use was with the 2013 raising of the 114,000-gt cruiseship Costa Concordia (built 2006) off the coast of Italy.
Titan Salvage, now trading as Ardent, led that salvage project, which at around $2bn, was one of the most expensive salvage jobs ever undertaken.
TradeWinds understands that the Star Centurion’s P&I coverage is provided Gard.
