The salvagers, SMIT International, have successfully re-floated the fore (front section) of single-hull broken oil tanker 'Tasman Spirit' at 1100 hours on Saturday, after the ship was grounded almost eight months ago.
Sources told Business Recorder that the salvagers had started re-floating the front section at 2100 hours on Friday and finally met success by turning the position of front portion from face-in to face-off.
After calculating an estimated 5,654 light weight tonnage (LWT) of such portion, the portion had sailed out from the grounded place of the harbour channel with the fleet of flotillas after exactly seven months and 25 days.
The fleet of flotillas comprised of three tugs, one tug 'Luzon' is escorting the broken section of oil tanker while the second tug 'Anambas' is towing the front section while the third tug 'Lloyd-28' is moving beside the flotilla.
The broken portion was held by Shareleg crane named 'SMIT Cyclone', which has the capacity to lift 1,000 tonnes, and a submersible barge 'Zakher Moon' was brought from abroad for this operation.
The salvage operation was successful and the front portion, which had submerged deep into the seabed, is now heading for Gaddani ship-breaking yard where it shall be dismantled and broke at later stage.
The flotilla was expected to reach at Gaddani, Balochistan province in about two and half days at a speed of about 3 to 5 nautical miles per hour.
The tanker was grounded on July 27 last year and later broke into two pieces on August 14.
The ship was carrying 67,500 tonnes of crude oil of Iranian origin for the Pakistan Refinery Limited. The tanker is owned by the Asimina Maritime Limited of Valetta Malta.
Captain Nick Sloane was engaged as project director for the salvage operation by the SMIT International.
The wreckage removal operation started on January 20 and would be completed in two to three months time prior to the onset of monsoons.
The local facilitator, Karachi Port Trust, was supporting the operation through its co-ordinator, Capt. Jamaluddin, who was also updated on day-to-day proceedings of the salvage team.
A representative of project co-ordinator in Pakistan, MEW Limited, about 75 divers, riggers and other technical staff including about 15 personnel from Pakistan, had been engaged for the operation, while the existing crew of tugs and ships brought in numbered around 140.
Vice-Admiral Ahmed Hayat (Retired), chairman, KPT and other senior officials closely monitored the peration.
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