The Port Authority of Gibraltar has issued the owners of the OS35 with a wreck removal notice. This means the vessel and everything that comes from it will have to be removed from Gibraltar’s waters by 30th May, 2023.
The ship’s insurers are now undertaking a tender process to identify a contractor for the removal, and over the next four weeks the vessel’s insurers will develop a removal plan.
Furthermore, the Port Authority will be scrutinising that plan to ensure that the standards of safety, environmental protection and efficiency are met. It will also be ensuring that the successful tenderer is a contractor with a track record for safely and successfully carrying out similar operations.
In the meantime, the internal accommodation of the ship is being stripped during this ‘caretaker phase’ so that the successful tenderer can hit the ground running.
There will be a seven day handover period, and then a phase of 171 days for the removal operation itself during which the Port will be monitoring and keeping tabs on progress.
