Dive inspections have shown that the sunken car carrier Baltic Ace has been damaged more than expected, thus suspending the wreck’s lifting operation. As a result, salvours would have to come up with an alternative “storage” plan for the wreck, according to the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment.
The wreck, sitting on the seafloor near the port of Rotterdam, has been extensively cracked by wind, tidal currents and wave action, making the initial salvage method inadequate as the structure is not strong enough to endure the lifting.
The Baltic Ace wreck still poses a navigational threat to ships entering Rotterdam as it is situated at depth of 35 meters, only 6 meters from the surface.
The Dutch Ministry decided in 2013 to salvage the ship in its entirety. Boskalis and Mammoet Salvage have been contracted in early 2014 for the job for an estimated $91 million (67 million euros).
The salvage operation includes the removal of some 540,000 litres of oil that the vessel was carrying along with its cargo.
On the evening of 5 December 2012, the Baltic Ace and the container ship Corvus J collided, near the entrance of the Eurogeul, a busy deepwater shipping lane leading to the port of Rotterdam.
The Baltic Ace, carrying over 1400 cars, sank immediately. Eleven of the twenty-four crew members on board died in the accident.
[mappress] World Maritime News Staff, August 13, 2014; Image: mammoetsalvage