Yu-Zhou-Qi-Hang

The Scottish subsea specialist Sulmara has supported the fuel recovery operation from the 'Yu Zhou Qi Hang'. At the request of the Taiwanese government, Sulmara mobilized a WAM-V 16 uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) and a team of survey specialists to assist in the operation to recover almost 300 tons of fuel oil, the vessel had on board, when it lost power off the coast of Taiwan on Oc 29 asTyphoon Kong-rey struck. The Taiwanese marine contractor Dong Fang Offshore was called upon to deploy the 'Orient Constructor', a vessel capable of lifting salvage equipment and pumps onto the wreck. However, the operation presented high risks because maneuvering the 'Orient Constructor' close to the grounded vessel in adverse weather and shallow waters was further complicated by limited information on the potential subsea hazards below the keel. To mitigate the risk of damage to the 'Orient Constructor' and ensure safe navigation in the shallow waters, Dong Fang Offshore worked alongside Sulmara to conduct a complex seabed survey. Sulmara equipped a WAM-V 16 USV with a multibeam echosounder (MBES), a sensor used to map the seabed. The data collected was used to independently verify and cross check existing seabed data, instilling confidence to proceed.There was a risk that objects from the vessel could drop into the sea as well as other debris and hazards. Therefore, a USV was chosen because of the benefits it could bring. A safe operation which included connecting a towing line to the USV as back up in case anything happened. Within just two days, the WAM-V 16 was demobilized after safely completing its mission. The rapid response also enabled Dong Fang Offshore to complete the salvage operations within a week of arriving on site. Report with photo: https://www.marinelink.com/news/sulmara-assists-fuel-recovery-op-521513

Due to the potential threat to the national park’s ecosystem at the coast of Yeliu, New Taipei City, by the 250 tons of heavy oil, the 'Yu Zhou Qi Hang'' was carrying, the Dongfang Wind Power quickly mobilized resources to prevent an ecological disaster. Wind Power promptly dispatched the engineering vessel 'Dongfang Builder', which is equipped with a dynamic positioning system (DP2) and a 250-ton dynamic compensation crane, ensuring stability even in complex sea conditions for high-difficulty operations, which arrived at Keelung Port on Nov 8 to begin preparations for the oil removal. Due to the rocky terrain at the grounding site and waves reaching up to four meters, the site was highly risky. To address this, Dongfang Wind Power deployed three elite surveying teams to conduct a detailed seabed survey, laying a solid foundation for subsequent operations. Under the strong influence of the northeast monsoon, the window of opportunity for construction was extremely limited. However, the Dongfang Wind Power team overcame the challenging conditions. Logistics personnel climbed cliffs to install positioning equipment, while the survey teams operated small boats in rough waves to carry out precise measurements. With the help of advanced dynamic positioning and lifting technology, the crew aboard the 'Dongfang Builder' successfully completed the precise equipment lifting, allowing the oil extraction work to proceed smoothly.

Taiwan has rejected allegations by China on Nov. 13, that it turned down requests by the “Yu Zhou Qi Hang” to seek shelter in Keelung Port before the typhoon hit. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) alleged the crew had asked to return to Keelung before Typhoon Kong-rey arrived, but Taiwan’s Maritime and Port Bureau replied they had made no such request, The crew wanted to leave Keelung before the typhoon and decided on their direction by themselves, the bureau said. Since the ship was carrying at least 290 tons of oil products, efforts were launched to prevent an oil spill from affecting the New Taipei coastline. However, since Nov. 2, several attempts at pumping out the oil were abandoned due to rough weather. The Ministry of Transportation wanted a new try to go ahead on Nov. 14, with the task to be completed within two weeks. The necessary equipment has been affixed to the “Yu Zhou Qi Hang,” but the approach of another typhoon, Usagi, might complicate the work. The Central Weather Administration was expected to issue sea warnings for the storm early on Nov 14, with land warnings likely to follow later in the day at the earliest.