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Pentow Service News

15 Jul 2004

Cape Africa Enters Port of Cape Town

The bulk carrier 'Cape Africa', under tow by the salvage tug 'Smit Amandla', will enter the Port of Cape Town this afternoon. Yesterday evening, with the 'Cape Africa' cargo lightening operation complete and the specialized lightening vessel 'Bandar' en route to Saldanha Bay to discharge the final load of iron ore cargo removed from the bulk carrier, the convoy of tug and tow, under escort by the SMIT tug 'Pentow Service' and the oil pollution vessel 'Kuswag IV', left False Bay en route to Cape Town.

01 Aug 2002

Smit Succeeds in Refloating the Nino

SMIT Salvage achieved the pollution-free refloating of the product tanker Nino today. This vessel grounded on South Africa’s Wild Coast, around 60 miles north east of East London, on July 18, while carrying a part cargo of 7,700 tonnes of gasoil and gasoline. The vessel went aground at a very remote location. SMIT obtained a LOF/SCOPIC salvage contract and immediately mounted a major casualty and pollution prevention operation. Vessels mobilised in the first few hours included the Wolraad Woltemade – one of the world’s largest salvage tugs, the anchorhandling tug Pentow Service, the environmental patrol vessel S.A. Kuswag 1 and an inshore survey vessel (required to survey the shallow waters around the grounded Nino).

12 Sep 2002

SMIT Confirms Jolly Rubino Moving Away From Coast

SMIT Salvage can confirm that the ‘Jolly Rubino' is presently moving parrallel to and away from the Kwa-Zulu Natal coastline in a north easterly direction at a distance of 6 miles; the effect of the wind, recorded at 60 miles per hour, overriding the effect of the current. Her position is being continuously monitored by the Anchor Handler ‘Pentow Service' which remained in the vicinity of the casualty overnight. Speculation that the ‘Jolly Rubino' is drifting towards the environmentally sensitive St Lucia area would, given current reports on the casualty's position, appear to be unfounded. However, Salvors continue to monitor the situation closely.

16 Sep 2002

SMIT Reduces Oil Emanating From Jolly Rubino

The SMIT Salvage team continued with preparations onboard the ‘Jolly Rubino’ for the refloating attempt, aided by favorable weather and sea conditions. Ninety percent of the portside crack has been patched by the dive team, reducing the oil emanating from the ‘Jolly Rubino’. Early this morning, the “Dyneema” towline was connected to the bow of the grounded ‘Jolly Rubino’ via the Anchor Handler ‘Pentow Service’ and by means of helicopter. It was then connected to the ‘Wolraad Woltemade’s tow wire. The towing connection has thus been completed. A further attempt was made to take soundings on the lower deck to determine if any water was present in the area.

19 Sep 2002

Conditions Onboard Grounded RoRo Not So ‘Jolly’ for SMIT

Following yesterday afternoon’s helicopter evacuation of salvage personnel from the grounded Jolly Rubino, the team was flown out to the casualty again this morning in an attempt to gain access to the engine room. The situation onboard during the morning allowed for safe entry into this area, where yesterday smoke and excessive heat had made conditions unsafe for salvage personnel. The team commenced working in protective gear and with breathing apparatus in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees and were able to resume pumping operations in an attempt to clear the engine room of water as part of preparations for the fuel removal operation. The water, rather than being pumped overboard, was being used to cool the engine room bulkhead.

20 Sep 2002

SMIT Salvage team evacuated from Jolly Rubino

This morning a team of 16 salvage personnel boarded the 'Jolly Rubino' and pumping operations in the engine room continued. The water, rather than being pumped overboard, is being used to cool the engine room bulkhead as the onboard fire is still encroaching on this area. Working conditions in the engine room continue to be extremely difficult with excessive heat, poor visibility and intense smoke hindering progress. The salvage team are making use of breathing apparatus as well as protective clothing as a safety measure. Carbon Monoxide is being generated in the engine room as a result of the fire and readings taken this morning in this area by salvage personnel measured 12 times the maximum allowable limit.

24 Sep 2002

Weather Causes Delay For SMIT

An increase in the swell height being experienced in the vicinity of the grounded Jolly Rubino has prevented salvage personnel from connecting the oil transfer hoses to be used in the ship-to-ship transfer operation. The SMIT Salvage team report that swell height has been steadily increasing and is currently measured at 10-11 ft. It is expected that the current ground swell condition will continue for the next 3 days, delaying the beginning of the next phase of the fuel removal operation. Salvage personnel working in the engine room continue to pump the area of water to maintain low water levels in this space. A large quantity of accumulated sand is to be removed from the area in the engine room where the manifold (pipeline system) is located before hose connection can take place.

14 Oct 2002

SMIT Salvage Removes Hazardous Cargo From Jolly Rubino

Approximately half of the hazardous cargo onboard the grounded ‘Jolly Rubino’ has been airlifted off the casualty in the last 9 days. SMIT Salvage personnel have removed 1000 barrels from the deck by air, as well as 6 empty 20-ft. cargo containers – giving them access to those containers still on deck deemed to contain the balance of the hazardous cargo. This operation is ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Cargo removed from the ‘Jolly Rubino’ is airlifted by a powerful Russian Mi-8 helicopter to a high security temporary holding area located on land 9 miles south of the ‘Jolly Rubino’. 154 tons of oil skimmed…