Salvors Switch MV Benita’s Towline Connection

As the bulk carrier MV Benita settled deeper into the water while being towed to the Indian coast, the salvors needed to switch the towline connection as towing by the stern “was no longer possible,” the Greek company Five Ocean Salvage said.

Namely, the 44,183 dwt vessel will now be towed from the bow to a scrapyard in Alang, India.

“Over the last few days we have been assessing the tow-worthiness of the casualty and preparing for demolition tow to India which is the destination of the tow,” Five Ocean Salvage said.

The company added that, because the tow is a dead ship, adjusting the towing arrangement was a slow process due to the dangerous conditions for the boarding team.

The vessel was refloated on July 23 after a month long grounding in the southern part of Mauritius which was a result of a fight between the vessel’s crewmembers.

The 1998-built bulk carrier was carrying some 145 tons of oil at the time of the incident.

Prior to the refloating, the vessel’s bunker fuel, lubricant oil and other pollutants on board were removed. Cargo tanks and void spaces were sealed before being pressurized in order to facilitate the successful refloating attempt.

World Maritime News Staff