The Brazilian Navy reported that drainage of saltwater from one of the cargo holds of the grounded cargo ship Stellar Banner has been completed.
To remind, the VLOC, loaded with iron ore, experienced trouble off the coast of Brazil, on February 25, raising fears that the vessel could sink. After the incident, all 20 crew members have been evacuated from the ship as a precaution.
Now, Brazil took the responsibility to prevent the spill from the grounded vessel, hiring Ardent, salvage company, for the salvage operations.
Also, it is reported that according to surveillance footage from the aircraft monitoring the area the situation remains stable and that there have been no traces of oil at the grounding site.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian mining company Vale SA is conducting bathymetric surveys and is assessing the capacity to receive the iron ore load at the incident location.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brazilian Navy has sent to all ships involved in the salvage operations, precautionary instructions.
