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Problem with ballast water system caused distress situation of Sea Breeze

A problem in the ballast system on the "Sea Breeze" led to the six-man crew having to be rescued in a major operation in the English Channel, the MAIB found out. With the engine room flooding, the crew of the ship took to the vessel's rescue boat and were picked up by the Falmouth Lifeboat. A lifeboat from the Lizard station in Cornwall as well as several vessels and a helicopter from the Royal Naval Air Station at Culdrose in Cornwall had responded to the ship's master's mayday, the report from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said. In the incident in the early morning of Mar 9, 2014, salvage pumps were put on board from both of the lifeboats and the helicopter, but the water level in the engine room could not be controlled. The owners contracted salvors, who were able to stabilise the flooding and bring the vessel under tow. The MAIB said that the valve actuator gearbox on a sea water-isolating valve in the ballast system was defective so that someone operating the valve might believe the valve was shut when it was not. The report added that the valve-position indicator was working but it had not been checked prior to work being started on the ballast pump. When the pump was removed, the engine-room flooded. The MAIB said the Sea Breeze's master and chief engineer had been dismissed on Apr 7, 2014 for gross infringement of the vessel's safety management manual and unsuitability for the positions held. Their dismissals followed an internal report into the incident by the Sea Breeze's managers, the Shipmar company.

Sea Breeze remains in Fal as salvors are still waiting for their money

The "Sea Breeze" remained being moored in the River Fal near Trelissick Gardens at a cost of £200 per day to the public purse. The Falmouth salvage company Keynvor MorLift (KML) claimed it is owed about £200,000 in fees for the salvage and towing of the vessel after it nearly sank off the coast of the Lizard on Mar 9. Maritime lawyers are chasing the payments from the ship’s owner, Ukraine-based KDM Shipping. The ship had been towed to St Austell Bay for repairs, and then the Port of Fowey was directed by the UK Government's marine casualty authority to take her in before she was moved to the Fa. The cost of towing the vessel and mooring it for the fpllowing seven weeks was estimated at £200,000. At the moment the vessel is being looked after by the Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said discussions were underway with KDM Shipping and its insurers to resolve the issue of payment. Report with photos: http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Foreign-ship-Sea-Breeze-moored-Fal-costing-tax/story-21043518-detail/story.html#ixzz30YDgdU8F

Successful salvage prevents coastal pollution

Keynvor MorLift Ltd (KML) has successfully completed the salvage of the cargo vessel MV Sea Breeze off the coast of Cornwall UK. The salvage operation began on 9 March after the Sea Breeze sent a mayday call at 07:00 reporting to be sinking via a flooded engine room. The casualty vessel was anchored in St Austell Bay and, supported by KML’s tug, landing craft, guard vessels, and dive teams from Seawide Services, further stabilised and dewatered without pollution or incident. A temporary exclusion zone was established around the casualty by SOSREP. Efforts to keep the Sea Breeze, which was carrying nearly 3,000 tonnes of limestone and 65 tonnes of fuel and oil, safe and to prevent any further damage continued until 19 March when the casualty was towed into Fowey Harbour for safe refuge and repair. KML Director Diccon Rogers said: “We are proud of what we have achieved. After mobilising all the necessary vessels, equipment and personnel rapidly, we operated efficiently and managed to contain and then improve a deteriorating situation. Although the Sea Breeze was in an unfortunate position and at severe risk of total loss via sinking, with attendant oil pollution, we managed to save her. This is the best result possible given the situation the Sea Breeze was in when we found her, and the risk of oil pollution and wreckage on the Cornish Coast.”