Two salvage concerns recently refloated a product tanker that became stuck on the beach at Vlissingen.

Dutch-based Multraship Salvage and Belgian salvage specialist URS Salvage & Maritime Contracting successfully salved the 44,360 dwt product tanker ‘Akti N’ after the Liberian-flag vessel ran aground close to Vlissingen Boulevard, a popular Dutch tourist attraction.

At the time of the grounding, the vessel was in ballast and inbound through the Wielingen Channel with a Belgian pilot on board when it reportedly responded to a change of orders and swung onto Flushing Roads. The turn proved to be too tight, however, and the vessel ended up on the beach at Vlissingen, on an ebb-tide, during the evening of 10th June.

After discounting initial plans to refloat the vessel under its own power by deballasting, the master of the vessel signed a Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) salvage agreement with Multraship and URS, who refloated the vessel using six tugs - four connected to the grounded tanker and two pushing from the side.

Leendert Muller, managing director of Multraship, says, “Once again we can see an example of the ability of the salvage industry to respond quickly to a maritime emergency, mobilising extensive resources at short notice and working in close co-operation with the local authorities, who were on high alert because the incident occurred in a heavily populated area.”

source: TankerOperator