Spanopoulos Group announced the successful refloating and removal of the sunken AGIA ZONI II, which began on Friday 24 November. The shipwreck was safely removed and transferred temporarily to nearby yard facilities, to carry out the necessary inspections.
For the wreck removal operation, one 1 floating ringer crane 1300 tons lifting capacity and another of 260 tons were used, as well as, powerful salvage tugs, antipollution vessels and a specialized diving team of the company.
Furthermore, personnel consisting of salvage master, naval architects, mechanical engineers, environmentalists, oil spill responders and safety technician were engaged on the operation.
Michalis Spanopoulos, Owner and project coordinator, stated: “From the very first moments, a demanding battle was fought and the response was immediate with awareness for the environment, in order to eliminate the consequences of oil spill in the sea and at the coastal areas. With the removal of this harmful-polluter, we managed to mitigate the risk that could more adversely affect the environment. It should be also stressed out that the clean-up works for the coastline and wreck site are in their final stages.”
Earlier this year, the Aghia Zoni II tanker sank while anchored off Salamina island’s eastern coast, with a cargo of 2,200 tons of fuel oil and 370 tons of marine gas oil onboard, with oil slicks having reached waters of Piraeus, Greece’s major port in Athens. Officials informed that a considerable part of coastline has “turned black”, while people nearby suffer intense smell and eye ache. Namely,
Following the accident, The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) informed that it deployed an oil spill response vessel, starting from 13 September, to help at the clean up operations off Piraeus, while the IMO-administered Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) assisted in cleaning up beaches in Greece affected by the oil spill following the sinking of Agia Zoni II.
