Fairmount Marine’s powerful tug Fairmount Alpine has successfully assisted in the refloating of the grounded MV Ikan Sepat just offshore Puerto Cortés, Honduras. The salvage operation was directed by T&T Bisso Salvage.
The MV Ikan Sepat is a 180 meter long, 28,503 DWT bulk carrier flying the Singapore flag. The vessel was grounded in the approach of the port of Puerto Cortés, located at the Gulf of Honduras in the northwest of the country.
During mobilization of the Fairmount Alpine from Jamaica specialists from Fairmount Marine discussed the salvage operation with T&T Bisso’s salvage master. At daylight December 4th the Fairmount Alpine arrived on site where after officers of the tug met with the salvage team, the officers of MV Ikan Sepat and other parties involved onboard the grounded vessel.
In the following day preparations were made for the refloat attempts.
Fairmount Alpine assisted with e.g. ‘prop washing’ and soundings at the stern of the grounded vessel. Also the towing equipment for the refloat attempt was prepared by Fairmount Alpine’s deck crew.
In the early evening of December 13th Fairmount Alpine successfully refloated MV Ikan Sepat due to combined efforts of the tug’s crew, the salvage team and the crew of the vessel.
Fairmount Marine is a marine contractor for ocean towage and heavy lift transportation, headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Fairmount’s fleet of tugs consists of five modern super tugs of 205 tons bollard pull each, especially designed for long distance towing. Fairmount Marine is part of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group.
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World Maritime News Staff, December 19, 2011; Image: Fairmount