Port officials report that the next step in the process to remove the wreck of the bulker OS 35 that sank at the end of August 2022 off Gibraltar is now underway.
As explained, they were waiting for a window of good weather with calm seas and low wind to begin the operation.
Lifting of the bow section of the bulker, which is approximately the forward third of the 584-foot long OS 35, began on June 28.
The vessel broke into two pieces during a series of winter storms in the region. Initially, the bow sank to the seafloor after the bulker hit an anchored gas carrier while it was departing the port with a cargo of steel rods.
The OS 35 came to rest approximately 1,300 feet offshore from Gibraltar. Officials and the salvage team later decided to sink the stern to the seafloor to manage the hulk and reduce the potential for residual oil leaks. Despite putting the vessel on the seafloor, the storms extended damage to the hull until the two sections were separated.
In October of 2022, The Port Authority of Gibraltar issued the owners of the OS35 with a wreck removal notice by 30th May, 2023.
As informed, the master of the OS 35 was recently convicted of crimes relating to the handling of the vessel and given a suspended sentence.
The Port of Gibraltar says they are in the final phase of the salvage operation. Once it is completed, they plan a further review of the incident investigation and the lessons learned to improve operations and safety.
