Challenges Mount for the Grounded <a href='/ships/skandi-amazonas-9528328'>Skandi-Amazonas</a> as Recovery Efforts Intensify

The situation surrounding the Skandi-Amazonas, a vessel owned by the Norwegian shipping company DOF Group, has escalated as it remains grounded near Macaé, Brazil. On May 15, 2026, the vessel suffered a hull breach after colliding with a rock near the Santana Archipelago, leading to propulsion failure due to water ingress in the starboard engine room. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the 29 crew members on board, who took precautionary measures by gathering on deck with life vests when the emergency occurred. In a strategic move to prevent the ship from sinking, the crew intentionally grounded it approximately 200 meters off Praia Campista.

Initial salvage efforts began promptly, with local authorities laying an oil boom around the vessel to mitigate environmental risks. Support vessels from Porto de Impetiba were dispatched to assist, and the crew was reduced to 17 members who remained on board to aid in recovery operations, while 12 non-essential crew members were safely evacuated. The DOF/Norskan Group followed these developments by mobilizing additional resources on May 18, enhancing the response structure to potential oil spill threats in the region. Continuous monitoring of the grounded vessel indicated stability, and there were no immediate signs of environmental damage.

However, the circumstances took a turn for the worse when reports emerged that, by May 23, the Skandi-Amazonas had completely flooded. The vessel, which had been listing to starboard, settled even keeled and became submerged to the main deck due to poor weather and aggressive wave action. Waves washed over the work deck, exacerbating the challenges faced in the salvage operation.

As the situation develops, a commission is investigating the causes of the accident, with early hypotheses pointing to the vessel's collision with a rock bank as the main factor. The recovery team's plans for a safe and controlled refloating are now more critical than ever, as they grapple with not only the technical challenges of recovering the vessel but also the pressing need for environmental protection in the wake of this incident.