Boskalis to Provide Salvage Services for Damaged Tankers

Boskalis to Provide Salvage Services for Damaged Tankers ‘ Front Altair and Kokuka Courageous’ in the Gulf of Oman

Insurers of both vessels appointed Boskalis subsidiary SMIT Salvage to salvage the vessels and their cargo, shortly after the incidents.

Netherlands based global dredging and offshore contractor and maritime services provider ‘Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis)’ has been appointed as the salvor for both tankers that were hit on 13th June in the Gulf of Oman in a suspected attack, company said on 14th June.

Company said, the situation of the Front Altair with a cargo of naphtha is still worrisome. The crew was safely rescued from the ship and the fire was extinguished on the afternoon, 13th June. A salvage team was flown in to execute the salvage operation on site with accompanying specialist equipment.

However, the Kokuka Courageous with a methanol cargo on board is now in a stable condition. Ship crew was safely left the vessel after which the ship was stabilized. A towing connection was successfully established on the afternoon of 13th June and later, crew was able to return to the vessel. The vessel was being towed to a port in the Gulf region.

The salvage operations are being carried out in close consultation with the relevant local authorities, including the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Center (MEMAC), company added.

Both vessels were passing through Gulf of Oman, one of the world’s busiest oil routes, when this event happened. Crude oil tanker ‘Front Altair’ with cargo, en route from Al Ruways UAE to Taiwan, and chemical carrier ‘Kokuka Courageous’ with cargo of methanol, en route from Saudi Arabia to Singapore.