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Update on Stranded Bulk Carrier |
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Thursday, 21 June 2007 14:04 |
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority reports that a fourth tug, the Pacific Responder, has been brought in to assist with the salvage operations of a coal transporter stranded on a sand bar on Nobbys Beach in Newcastle, NSW. The Pacific Responder is a 64-meter vessel built in 2006 and detailed to the National Maritime Emergency Response group. The Pacific Responder will be laying sea anchors and chains to be used in the effort to haul the Pasha Bulker back to sea. The ship was stranded in a violent storm on June 8, and rough weather has hampered salvage operations since that time.
The 22-member salvage crew aboard the stranded vessel temporarily
suspended operations on Tuesday, June 19 due to an approaching storm
expected to bring 55-knot winds and heavy seas, with swells of up to 7
meters. According to the Australian government, the salvage preparations are on track to refloat the tanker at the end of June. An oil-spill containment team is on hand in the event an oil spill does occur. No oil has been released from the ship to date.
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