Multraship, working in co-operation with Belgian salvage operator URS Salvage & Maritime Contracting, has refloated an Italian-flag chemical carrier which grounded off the Dutch coast, very close to a heavily populated tourist beach, on July 31.
The 5,045 gt Rubino grounded off the beach at Zoutelande just after high tide. This is a very popular tourist area, and bathers and swimmers were ordered out of the water, to safety.
The salvors, operating under an LOF agreement and working in close co-operation with the local authorities, mobilised an expert salvage team and three tugs, with others standing by, to refloat the vessel, which was thereafter towed to the Scheldepoort shipyard for inspection. No severe damage was found, and the vessel was redelivered to its owners at midnight on the day of the casualty.