Cape St Lucia News

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.

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.

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.