Lightering operations are now taking place for the stranded freighter CDRY Blue, after it ran aground on a rocky shore in Sant’Antioco, Sardinia on December 21. Smit Salvage is the lead salvor, and it is overseeing the work in collaboration with the Italian Coast Guard and the local port authority.
According to the pollution-prevention plan, for bunkers and other petroleum on board the CRDY Blue will be pumped into special containers on deck. When the containers are filled, they will be flown off via helicopter.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
The whole operation is expected to last several days. When the operation finishes defueling, it will then focus on lightering the ship’s cargo and the salvage of the ship itself.
As of now the coast guard has performed numerous dive surveys of the seabed under the CRDY Blue’s hull, to monitor its condition. In addition, a spill response vessel and two patrol boats are standing by at the scene to check for signs of pollution.
The bulker vessel “CDRY Blue” went aground on a rocky shore on the coast of Sardinia, Italy, on December 21, leading the Italian Coast Guard (Guardia Costiera) launching a rescue operation for those on board.
The local media reported that the vessel was looking for shelter, as it had a hard time during the stormy weather. Yet, it ran aground on a shoal between Porto Sciusciau and Capo Sperone, in the Sant’Antioco area of south-western Sardinia.
Moreover, following reports of the accident, the Cagliari Harbor Office conducted an effort to save the crew, by dispatching two patrol boats and one helicopter from the Guarda Costiera to the scene.
As the weather conditions were challenging, with 50 knot winds, the helicopter aircrew were not able to immediately hoist the seafarers off the vessel. Therefore, the next morning it returned and managed to rescue all 12 members of the CDRY Blue’s crew.
