Fighting the odds to rescue a stranded bulk carrier from dangerous waters
Shallow waters. Eight-meter waves. One stranded bulk carrier
At a glance:
- After the bulk carrier MV Benita became stranded on its way to Durban, shallow waters and rising waves made initial rescue efforts impossible
- With bad weather preventing tugs getting near enough to attach steel towing wires, the only option was to transport ropes via helicopter
- Dyneema® proved to be the obvious choice for the tricky salvage operation – light enough to transport and handle easily, but strong enough to refloat the mammoth vessel
After the MV Benita, a bulk carrier headed to the South African city of Durban, was grounded on June 17 2016, Five Oceans Salvage was brought in to refloat the casualty after removing the 145 tons of fuel onboard the ship. Due to the harsh conditions, ropes made with Dyneema® were the only option both strong enough and light enough to help refloat the vessel.
Five Oceans Salvage
Based in Greece, Five Oceans Salvage (FOS) is an international salvage, towage, wreck removal and emergency response contractor that’s been operating worldwide since 2007.
Fighting the odds
Following the grounding incident, FOS was brought in to assist with the salvage efforts, along with the support of the ship owner’s underwriters and the Mauritian authorities. The primary aim of the operation was to maintain the vessel in its grounded position and prevent it from running further aground, while simultaneously removing the bunkers from onboard. Efforts were further complicated by Benita’s location on top of a reef, where waves ranging from four to eight meters high formed – making an approach by sea impossible for the salvage tugs.
The impassable location of the MV Benita further complicated response efforts.
Both of FOS’ salvage tugs are equipped with 64mm steel towing wires. However, due to the grounding of the Benita, the vessel had no power and the shallow water in the surrounding area prevented the salvage tugs from getting closer than 200m to the ship. Without power on the receiving vessel side, the only way for the salvage team to connect the tugs to the casualty, and hold the Benita in position for refloating, was by using ropes made with Dyneema® - which were light enough to be handled by the salvage crew and transported by helicopter.
Bad weather complicates refloating efforts
Weather proved to be an ongoing challenge throughout the refloating efforts. In fact, two tugs were connected to the Benita at all times in order to ensure no further running aground occurred.
“Since the bad weather prevented us from getting close to the vessel, the only option was to transfer ropes to the ship by helicopter,” says tug master Captain Kyriakos Goudas. “Ropes made with Dyneema® were the obvious choice; light enough for the job, while providing the strength we needed for the refloating efforts.”
The crew was able to easily attach the ropes to the vessel due to their lightweight and ease of handling.
Dyneema® offers a lightweight solution
The inherent properties of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, makes ropes made with Dyneema® as strong as steel, yet seven times lighter, which enables faster and safer handling. Additionally, ropes made with Dyneema® are more durable, UV resistant and show extraordinary performance even in extreme conditions.
“The ease of handling of the ropes made all the difference in the refloating efforts,” says Goudas. “Ropes made with Dyneema® sped up the operation, without compromising the safety of my crew.”
Two FOS tugs with Kapaneema Plus rope were used to refloat the MV Benita
- IONIAN SEA FOS: 10,560 BHP Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel / 102 tons bollard pull
- CORAL SEA FOS: 9,000 BHP Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel / 80 tons bollard pull
Both vessels carried a 400m x 64mm; 300 tonne MBL Kapaneema Plus rope made with Dyneema® and manufactured by D. Koronakis S.A. In addition to the inherent advantages of Dyneema® fiber, the rope’s dual-color jacket allowed the crew to identify, and remove, twists within the towing line, while still protecting the Dyneema® core.
“We have been extremely satisfied not only with the breaking load, but also with the longevity of our Kapaneema Plus ropes,” says the Engineering Department of D. Koronakis S.A. In fact, the staff admits that they are astonished to receive and re-test rope that maintains its original properties after 10 plus years in use.
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