Nigel Campbell News

Titan Salvage, now a part of Ardent following completion of the merger of Titan and Svitzer Salvage, has completed the removal of the wreck of the cape-size MV Smart coal carrier in South Africa, an especially challenging project due to weather conditions that prevail on the South African coast, particularly during the winter period. The removal of the vessel, which was entered in North P&I Club by owner Alpha Marine, has been accomplished on time and on budget due collaboration with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Titan and North.

Marine salvors plan to airlift oil from the abandoned oil-leaking cargo ship 'Kiani Satu' stranded off the beach at Buffels Bay, near Knysna, on the Western Cape of South Africa. The Johannasburg online newspaper 'Times Live' citing SAMSA spokesman Captain Nigel Campbell, reports that salvors are currently drilling into [bunker] tanks to take the fuel oil out, but as it has not been heated for a week they plan to put it into plastic tanks and fly it off the ship using helicopters. The 168m bulk carrier has 330 tonnes of fuel on board and a cargo of 15,000 tonnes of rice.