Innovative Equipment Will Help Unload Listing Ship
Modern Express (Photo: Rotterdam Port Connector)
File photo of the ShoreTension system (Photo: KRVE)
Following Smit Salvage’s salvage of the stricken ship Modern Express in the Gulf of Biscay, another Rotterdam company has now become involved in the rescue operations. The Koninklijke Roeiers Vereeniging Eendracht (KRVE) (Royal Boatmen Association Eendracht) will use its ShoreTension system to right the vessel so that unloading can begin.
The 164-meter cargo vessel Modern Express ran into problems at sea two weeks ago as fierce waves resulted in its cargo of wood and excavators shifting, which caused the ship to list and lose maneuverability.
Smit Salvage succeeded in towing the Modern Express to the Spanish port of Bilbao last week, helping to prevent an environmental disaster as the vessel had 300 metric tons of fuel on board.
The vessel is currently awaiting unloading in Bilbao, and KRVE assistance has been requested in order to achieve this. The Modern Express will be held in position using six ShoreTensions, with the ShoreTensions absorbing the vessel’s forces on the warps and compensating for the vessel’s movements. This will enable the cargo to be removed from the vessel safely.
