Viet-Thuan-80-03

The Istanbul Regional Port Authority of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure announced the details of the repair works to be initiated for the historical Hekimbaşı Salih Efendi Mansion in Istanbul in a letter published on Dec 31, 2024. After the "Vitaspirit", actually sailing as "'Viat Thuan 80-03", hit the wall of the mansion on April 7, 2018 and caused serious damage, the restoration works for the structure were accelerated. The marine works part of the restoration will be undertaken by Aras Deniz İnşaat A.Ş. The vessels to be used in the restoration process include the floating crane 'Koca Seyit', the tug "Gülsün Ana' and the service ship 'Albatros 3'. The plan made by Aras Deniz İnşaat A.Ş. was approved by the Istanbul Regional Port Authority. The works will be carried out between Jan 10 and May 25, 2025. Various safety and environmental measures must be followed during the works. These measures include taking all necessary measures for navigation, life, property and environmental safety, carrying out the work only during the day and in suitable weather conditions, and ensuring that all national and international documents of the vessels used are valid. Harmful substances must not be used in order to prevent any marine and environmental pollution during the works. In case of diving during the works, a separate diving permit must be obtained from the Istanbul Regional Port Authority. At the end of the works, it will be mandatory to provide written information to the Istanbul Regional Port Authority upon completion of the restoration activities. During this entire process, the instructions of the General Directorate of Coastal Safety and other authorized institutions will have to be fully complied with and the works will be carried out in a coordinated manner. The responsibility for the restoration will belong to Aras Deniz İnşaat A.Ş. officials. Report with photo: https://turkdeniz.com/vitaspirit-gemisinin-carptigi-yali-icin-deniz-araclariyla-restorasyon-basliyor

The "Vitaspirit" was shifted from Istanbul anchorage to Tuzla anchorage under supervision of a Coastal Safety tug on June 2, 2018, and dropped anchor at Tuzla roads at 3 p.m. The vessel's departure permission was yet to be issued by the port captain due to incomplete legal procedures. The vessel remained stationary and still under arrest at Tuzla anchorage since. It had suffered an engine failure and had run aground at the Hekimbasi Salih Efendi mansion, Beylerbeyi Point, in the Istanbul Strait on Apr 7. After having been refloated and towed to Istanbul anchorage, she was awaiting temporary repairs. The "Vita Spirit" sailed from Pendik on June 22, bound to Jedda, ETA July 1.

The underwater section of the "Vitaspirit" has been subjected to detailed surveys by divers in the presence of class and other surveyor panels, while crew witness statements have been collected by port master's incident investigation desk. An initial detailed damage survey of the historical mansion struck by the "Vitaspirit" has been carried out by appointed experts. Departure permission for the vessel has yet to be issued due to unpaid salvage expenses and letter of guarantee, so the vessel remained stationary at Istanbul anchorage on Apr 18.