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Recovery of lost cargo suspended until spring 2018

The recovery of cargo lost by the "BBC Ontario" on June 30 in the Viveiro estuary has been suspended until spring due to the state of the sea and the few hours of daylight. The divers found it impossible to cut the metal structures of 40 meters length in a water depth of 40-45 meters. Of the seven cages lost on June 30, there were three remaining on the bottom in which the 21 wind turbine blades were stowed. After several days in which divers were unable to work during the last weeks, the Ardentia Marine which was hired by the insurers of the "BBC Ontario" and the Maritime Captaincy of Burela have decided to suspend the cleaning of the seabed which was scheduled to resume in May 2018. However, the mouth of the Viveiro estuary has been cleared from all lost wind blades which had generated concern among the fishermen of Celeiro and recreational boaters. With the Ardentia Marine divers' team and the "Latero Primero", they were recovered and towed to the port of Celeirense, where they were torn apart by a grappled excavator. Trucks transported the debris in containers to A Coruña where the fiber waste was crushed and sent to a specific landfill. Because of the risk that the lost metal cages hooked anchors, the anchorage has been closed for merchant ships during the last five months. Now half of the anchorage space of San Román can be used by ships again with certains restrictions remaining at the location of the remains of the three metallic structures in the eastern half of San Román anchorage. With virtual signaling buoys, ships may detect their exact location with the AIS system. Also the docking space of the north dock of Celeiro where the recovered wind turbine blades were tied up has been cleared, and the fenced area where the Arias Casabella company broke up the metal cages and the wind blades has been dismantled. Spanish report with photo: https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/amarina/2017/12/04/suspenden-retirada-carga-perdio-mercante-ria-viveiro/0003_201712X4C1991.htm

Recovered wind turbine blades are disposed of

Although the public administration initially took over through the Sociedad Estatal de Salvamento Marítimo, insurance companies will bear the cost of removing the blades of wind turbines and metal cages that the "BBC Ontario" had lost at the mouth of the estuary of Viveiro more than three months ago. Several insurance companies were involved to bear the large expense. There was not yet an estimate of the costs of recovering and disposing of the 24-meter-long wind turbines and metal cages. A few days, a private company, with subcontractors, has startd the removal of the structures of fiber glass and iron. They were transported to the port of Celeiro, where they are now being torn apart, placed in containers and transported to authorized waste management centers. At least thirteen wind turbine blades and at least one metal cage have been recovered. Spanish report with photo: https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/amarina/2017/10/06/aseguradoras-pagan-retirada-palas-eolicas-buque-perdio-viveiro/0003_201710X6C3992.htm

Seven blades lost by BBC Ontario recovered to date

Salvamento Marítimo has recovered seven blades and the remains of one of the cages in which the blades were stowed for their transport by the "BBC Ontario". Four more blades were located in the sea and marked with lights. There was no certainty of the whereabouts of the other 11. In order to remove the long blades from the sea, boats, diving equipment and the "SAR Gavia" have been used to drag the blades to port. One of the last actions carried out has been the exploration of the entrance of the Estuary of Viveiro with a sonar. Four more structures have appeared in this sweep. It was believed that several of the missing vanes could be inside these sunken structures. The port captain of Burela has requested from the shipping company Krey Schiffahrts GMGH & Co KG or from the charterer, BBC Chatering CmbH, to submit a recovery plan for the submerged cargo in the vicinity of the entrance of the Ria de Viveiro. This plan was requested on July 27 with a term of 10 days. Therefore, on Aug 7 work on the anchorage (will resume to try to extract the structures. The blades, made of fiber, do not pose a danger to the boats because in an impact they move without major problems, but they can generate complications for the anchors and the fishing nets. When work is resumed next week it will be possible to conclude how many blades can be rescued from the sea and how many will stay in the Bay of Biscay. Spanish report with photos: https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2017-08-04/gamesa-pierde-22-aspas-eolicas-de-40-metros-en-el-cantabrico_1424686/