SAPEUR

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

New leaks on tanker wreck patched

On July 17, 2024, at the request of the Atlantic Maritime Prefect, crew from the Human Diving and Underwater Intervention Expert Center (CEPHISMER) embarked on board the chartered 'Sapeur' and intervened on the wreck of the tanker 'Tanio', which is located 25 nautical miles north of the island of Batz at a depth of 80 meters. The hull oft the ship showed intermittent hydrocarbon leaks identified during an initial dive carried out in Dec 2019. It was the subject of an intervention in Sep 2020, allowing 10 holes to be plugged. Following the suspicion of new leaks detected at the end of 2020, the maritime prefect once again mobilized CEPHISMER for new investigations in Jan 2021. These revealed the tearing off of three plates by fishing gear. In 2024, leaks have been detected, in connection with the severe winter storms, and another intervention to inspect the wreck was ordered. During three dives, several holes in the hull allowing small quantities of hydrocarbons to leak were observed. The team on board the 'Sapeur' used the ROV H2000 to fix a new sealing plate to the main cavity. Special monitoring of the coastline and maritime approaches to North Finistère will be maintained, in particular via regular satellite and aerial observations, in order to verify that no new dispersion appears. New missions such as the one carried out on July 17, 2024 could be scheduled in the coming months. On March 7, 1980, the 'Tanio', en route from Wilhelmshaven to Civitavecchia, broke in two 25 nautical miles north of the Isle of Batz. A Super Frelon helicopter of the French Navy hoisted up 31 survivors but eight crew members were missing. The tanker was carrying 28,600 tons of oil, of which approximately 10,000 tons spilled into the sea, contaminating 200 kilometers of coastline. The rear part of the tanker, containing 7,500 tons of oil, was towed to Le Havre, while the front part sank with another 10,000 tons. The pollution spread and only underwater operations, conducted for 15 months by the Compagnie Maritime d'Expertises (COMEX), made it possible to recover part of the remaining oil and plug the breaches. Despite difficult weather conditions, tides and undercurrents, 5,100 tonnes of oil were thus treated by COMEX.

Norseman Offshore files bankruptcy petition against Viking Supply Ships

Norseman Offshore has taken struggling Viking Supply Ships to court in Copenhagen. Norseman is the owner of the vessel Odin Viking which is on a bareboat charter with Sweden’s Viking. A petition for bankruptcy has been made on the basis of $2.5m unpaid hire. Viking said in a release it sees “no basis for the petition and will vigorously defend itself against it”. Viking has been in discussions with its lenders during the past months. On May 2 it entered into an in principle agreement with its lenders. “The dialogue is still not completed, but Viking Supply Ships is confident that a restructuring will be completed within the foreseeable future,” it said in a release on June 1. “The deteriorated market conditions within the global oil and gas market have continued to negatively impact the earnings and financial position of the group. The group’s liquidity position is strained and in the current market, the group is unable to fulfil existing covenant undertakings in its loan agreements,” the company warned. http://splash247.com/norseman-offshore-files-bankruptcy-petition-against-viking-supply-ships/

Viking Supply Ships lays up another

Viking Supply Ships has decided to lay up anchor handling tug supply vessel Odin Viking with immediate effect. The move comes as a “direct consequence of the poor market conditions” according to Viking, and the company will now commence negotiations with employees and unions to assess the crewing situation going forward with “the ambition to minimize lay-offs.” Late September Viking laid up three platform supply vessels, all of which were crewed by an external ship manager.