Bourbon, International leader in marine services for modern offshore

Assistance by the Artemis from March 10-21, 2008

Type of response :

Refloating

Place :

Sables d’Olonnes Beach

Description of the incident :

• What vessel: a fluviomarine vessel, 89 meters in length, on ballast
• What accident / purpose of the request for assistance : Vessel driven by 50-knot west winds on to the beach of Sables d’ Olonne, before sailing into the port's entry channel. The vessel ended up high and dry. The Shipowner signed an LOF 2000 contract with Les Abeilles to go ahead with the refloating. 

Description of the response:

• Tugs : ABEILLE LANGUEDOC + BSAD ALCYON
• Response team : A ten-person Les Abeilles salvage team including 1 senior salvage master + 1 salvage master and 1 marine architect from the Smit Salvage Company (Netherlands) + subcontractors (Bulldozers, berthing by La Rochelle, local firefighters)
• Weather conditions : Winds of 50 knots at the time the vessel ran aground, then winds of 40/45 knots the first four days of the response. These conditions disrupted the first two attempts at refloating. In addition, the tidal range worsened on the first week. Therefore the team had to wait until March 20 for tidal conditions to improve.
• Duration of the response : From March 10 to 21 (Vessel redelivered to its owner on March 21 in La Rochelle)
• Key data:
  - Pumping out of 60 cubic meters of diesel oil completed on March 14 to prevent pollution of the beach
  - Preparation of the third attempt (successful) from March 14 to 20 with rigging installed and a sinking basin on the starboard side of the vessel 100 meters long and one meter deep. The purpose of this sinking basin was to improve the floatability of the vessel during the successful attempt on March 20.
  - The presence of the public, especially on weekends, interfering with the work of our teams.                

Conclusions

Operation successful, conducted in accordance with the rules of the industry in total cooperation with marine and land-based authorities , without damage to the vessel or to the environment....