KEA TRADER
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Wreck partially dismantled
The 'Kea Trader' has meanwhile been partially dismantled by the crane barge 'Cali'. Some thousand tons of scrap have been transferred to Noumea for recycling since the work started in July 2020 with a salvage crew of 73 Chinese. As of October 2020, 20% of the wreck has been dismantled by EMC. The crane barge was anchored on the Durand Reef in pos. 22° 2.23' N 168° 38.32' E as of Jan 18, 2021, assisted by the tugs 'De Zhou' (IMO: 9350575) and 'Huaao' (IMO:9319040). Report with photo: https://rrb.nc/article/le-kea-trader-dementele-a-20
Salvage work being prepared
73 Chinese workers were expected to arrive in New Caledonia this week to start with the removal of the Malta flagged container m/v 'Kea Trader', 25145 gt (IMO:9701281 ). A special return flight of Aircalin to Shanghai will bring the men to Noumea where they will be quarantined for two weeks. They will then board a purpose-built Chinese barge to dispose of the wreck which has been stuck on Durand Reef near Mare since July 12, 2017. The immediate salvage operation involved pumping more than half 1.00 tons of fuel out of the wreck which in a storm eventually broke in two.
Upcoming operation to dismantle wreck dspite suggestion to leave it in situ
On Feb 7, 2020, the mayors and customary chiefs in New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands have been briefed about an upcoming operation to dismantle the 'Kea Trader' which was stuck Durand Reef near Mare after crashing into it at full speed in 2017. The local leaders were told at their meeting in Mare that a purpose-built Chinese barge was on its way from Hong Kong to Noumea with an expected arrival in mid-February, and will eventually dispose of the wreck. A confidential report in 2019 suggested that it might be best to leave the ship as it is because using a semi-submersible platform for the operation would impact the reef.
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