Rota-Salvor

Repair work on the grounded oil rig 'OCean Valiant' off El Houichate, which was lost by the 'SPM Neel Pratab 180' on Jan 12, in the Bizerte Governorate, were continuing in preparation for its upcoming towing to a Turkish port, a governorate statement said on May 13. The Tunisian authorities—local, regional, and central—were working together to finalize the technical and administrative interventions necessary to refloat the platform, while ensuring that the rights of the Tunisian state are protected. Despite difficult weather conditions in recent weeks, marked by strong winds and strong sea currents, more than 40 cubic meters of sand accumulated beneath the structure have been extracted. The operations also enabled the suction of polluted water and liquids that had seeped into the platform. These actions were carried out in collaboration with the tug 'Rota Salvor', tasked with the salvage operation, in accordance with the environmental protocol approved by the Tunisian authorities. The repair work on the cracks observed in the lower part of the structure has reached a completion rate of over 80% on the seaward side, while repairs to the northern side have already been completed by companies specializing in underwater welding. Barring adverse weather conditions, the operations to refloat the platform are expected to begin in the second half of June 2025. Report with photo: https://lapresse.tn/2025/05/14/tunisie-remise-a-flot-imminente-de-la-plateforme-petroliere-echouee-a-el-houichate/

Regional authorities will begin implementing the salvage plan for the grounded oil rig Ocean Valiant', 27149 gt (IMO: 8753330), off El Houichet, Bizerte, next week, and dispatched a second Turkish tug, the 'Rota Salvor', to assist in refloating the grounded rig. The main tug 'SPM Néel Pratab 180' (IMO: 9388613) is currently near the rig with a crew of 20 on board. The second tug has obtained navigation authorization and sailed from Aliaga on March 8 after the finalization of certain administrative procedures by the authorities, including the notification of regional and security authorities. It anchored in pos. 37° 19' N 009° 32' E on March 16. On Jan 12, 2025, the Tunisian forces assisted the 'SPM Neel Pratab 180' and its crew off the Houichet region of Bizerte after the towing cables to the rig broke due to adverse weather conditions off Bizerte near the coast of Ras Angela. The intervention allowed the vessel to dock without damage. The present situation was posing no environmental risk due to the absence of any petroleum or other substances harmful to the marine environment aboard the rig. Report with photo: https://www.leconomistemaghrebin.com/2025/03/16/operation-de-sauvetage-la-plateforme-petroliere-sera-remorquee-vers-la-turquie/

Salvamento Marítimo has decided to stop the transfer of canoes accumulated in the bay of the port of La Restinga, in El Hierro, destined for the port of Granadilla, in Tenerife, which had started on Nov 5, 2023, by the 'Guardamar Calíope' and which was to be resumed by the 'Punta Salinas' on Nov 6, due to the poor state of the sea. The transfer operations of the canoes was suspended until the weather conditions and the state of the sea have improved, as it currently made it difficult to tow the precarious vessels. The accumulation of canoes in the port of La Restinga, in the municipality of El Pinar de El Hierro, both outside and inside the dock, has caused the port to be inoperable without space to maneuver or dock. Currently, there were 29 docked canoes at the La Restinga dock.