On Friday 4th March 2011, we dispatched our salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" from her Galle (Sri Lanka) salvage station, to the assistance of Bulk Carrier "KALISTI" (16,368 GRT, 26,151 DWT), fully laden with about 23,000 tons of white refined bagged sugar, disabled about 250 nautical miles SW off Reunion Island.

"TSAVLIRIS UNITY" called at Port Louis to take provisions, water, fuel and lubricants for the casualty.

Our salvage tug safely transited through war (piracy) risk zone - arriving at the casualty's location on the 13th March and connected up towline in adverse weather conditions. On the 16th March, when weather conditions improved, "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" went alongside "KALISTI" for the transfer of MGO, Lub Oil, fresh water and provisions, completing the transfer on the same day.

On the 17th March, we arranged a service boat from Port Louis to come out to the M/V "KALISTI" for delivery of ships stores and crew changes which was completed same day. Towage commenced in a northerly direction. As the convoy would be transiting through high-risk piracy attack areas, we engaged anti-piracy consultants for the voyage planning to minimize risk for the "KALISTI" as well as our own salvage tug.

The passage plan changed during the towage to optimize every possibility to keep risk to a minimum. During the towage, the towline parted due to adverse weather conditions. Towline was successfully re-connected and towage continued without any problems. Convoy arrived safely at Colombo roads on 10th April 2011. During the repairs of "KALISTI" at Colombo roads our salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" provided stand by services.

Commencing from the 15th April, the "KALISTI" was towed by the "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" (as leading tug) and with the assistance of port tugs in and out of the port to load and unload spares. On the 22nd April, upon completion of repairs the "KALISTI" was safely redelivered to her owners. After taking on stores and provisions, replenishing bunkers etc., "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" returned to her salvage station at Galle on 12th May. This could well be the longest salvage/towage service of its kind in the Indian Ocean in recent times - over 6,500 miles round voyage – a service lasting about two months.

TSAVLIRIS SALVAGE INTERNATIONAL LTD was contracted by the owners/managers on 4th January 2011, to salvage BC ''MOONDANCE II'' (GT 30988 DWT 56131), laden with 51,000 tonnes of coal. The vessel was aground approximately 25 miles off the coast of East Kalimatan, NE Borneo, on the south eastern edge of Karang Malalungan coral reef.

Salvage team was dispatched from Holland and Greece consisting of Salvage Master, Salvage officer, Salvage engineers, Naval architects, Divers and riggers. Permit for the salvage operation was received from the governmental authorities in Jakarta. Salvage plan was also approved. All steps were taken to ensure that risks to the environment were adequately addressed. Salvage tug was on location since 13th January 2011.

Lightening operation commenced on Wednesday 26th January 2011, into three chartered barges, totalling about 18,000 tons dwt. Vessel was successfully refloated on 30th January 2011 at 14.16hrs without incident or any pollution. Reloading of cargo from lightening barges back to casualty commenced and was completed on Tuesday 1st February 2011. Vessel was safely delivered to owners on Wednesday 2nd February, 2011. This was a major salvage operation.

On Friday 22nd January 2010, we dispatched salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of M/T "ATHINA" (GRT 7,613, DWT 12,733) in ballast, which had stranded approximately 2.5 n.miles east of Kali Limenes, southern Crete. The vessel had dragged her anchors in sudden bad weather and grounded approximately 20 meters from the high rising rocky shoreline. Initially there was an imminent danger of pollution, however, this subsided, following transfer of all the bunkers and pollutants to the sub-contracted oil recovery anti-pollution vessel "AEGIS". A diver's inspection revealed that rocks had penetrated the ship's bottom. It was also observed that there were small pinnacle shaped rocks all along the port and starboard side of the vessel.

The salvage team made preparations for re-floating efforts, which were successful on Saturday 30th January, 2010. Following the re-floating, M/T "ATHINA" was towed to the anchorage for underwater inspection and for document preparation for towage to Piraeus.

On the 31st January due to adverse weather conditions (south westerly gale force winds) it was decided for safety reasons that the salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" and tugboat "HECTOR" proceed with the M/T "ATHINA" in tow under a controlled drifting mode, off Kali Limenes, until the weather improved. On the 3rd February the weather abated and the convoy anchored off Kali Limenes. On the 4th February, a detailed underwater dive inspection was performed. All towage certificates were received on the 5th February and on the same day the convoy sailed towards Piraeus.

On Saturday 6th February, the convoy arrived safely at Piraeus roads but due to prevailing weather conditions (Southerly gale force winds) M/T "ATHINA", salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" and tugboat "HECTOR" anchored off the Northern Coast of Aegina Island for shelter. On Monday 8th February, the convoy proceeded to Piraeus pilot station and with the assistance of port tugs the "ATHINA" berthed alongside at Perama, for transferring the bunkers and pollutants from "AEGIS". Transfer back to "ATHINA" commenced on the 11th February. This unexpected delay was due to the preparation of all relevant customs documentation and the public strike that occurred on the 10th February, and was completed on the 12th February. The casualty has been safely delivered to her owners. 

On Friday 5th November 2010, we dispatched salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of M/V "OCEAN VICTORY" (GRT 4,245, DWT 5,979), disabled about 100 miles North of Alexandria, Egypt.

The vessel was safely towed to Piraeus – arrived 10th November 2010.

On Saturday 2nd October, 2010, we dispatched AHTS "TYPHOON" from Falmouth, to the assistance of the combined chemical and oil tanker Motor Tanker "PYXIS BETA" (GT 5,256, DWT 7,800) laden with urea, disabled about 85 nautical miles SE of Ushant, France.

Casualty was towed safely to Blaye (France).

We dispatched our station keeping salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS HELLAS" from Ponta Delgada, Azores Islands, on the 27th September, 2010, to the assistance of Motor Vessel "SALTINA" (5,087GT, 7,300 DWT) disabled due to main engine problem approximately 400 n. miles Southwest of Ponta Delagada.

Casualty was safely towed to Pasajes, Spain – arrived on 11th October 2010.

On 8th September 2010, we mobilized salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of the M/V "MOUNT ATHOS" (GT 4,105, DWT 6,587) disabled about 35 n.miles South East of Kastelorizon Island.

The vessel was safely towed to Varna - arrived on 16th September 2010.

On Monday 23rd August 2010, we dispatched salvage tug "SUMATRAS", from the Cayman Islands, to the assistance of the Motor Vessel "LEVANTE " (GRT 4,381, DWT 4,950) fully laden with bagged rice, disabled about 130 n.miles West of Manzalino, Cuba.

Casualty was towed safely to Cap-Haitiren to discharge her cargo - arrived on 27th August, 2010. Discharging completed on 6th September.

On 10th July 2010 our salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" proceeded to the assistance of Motor Tanker "LIVRAMENTO" (GT 25,800, DWT 44,582) in ballast disabled about 1,500 miles SSW of Galle, Sri Lanka. The "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" arrived at the scene of the casualty on the 17th July and stood by in monsoon conditions.

On the 27th July, the "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" was relieved of her duties and returned to her salvage station at Sri Lanka.

On Sunday 9th May 2010, we dispatched salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, to the assistance of M/V "EAST EXPRESS" (GRT 3,504, DWT 3,126), laden with 2,149 MT of MDF, disabled about 40 miles Southwest of Kasteli, Crete.

The vessel was safely towed to Piraeus – arrived 12th May 2010.

On the 5th May 2010 we were advised by the owners/managers of vessel Motor Vessel "MONICA P" (GRT 27,011, DWT 46,667), that she had run aground at the mouth of the Amazon River (canal norte of Rio Amazonas), approximately 45 miles from Macapa, and required professional assistance. The vessel was on a voyage from Santana (BZ) to Europe, laden with about 43,500 metric tons of iron ore when the incident occurred.

Our Argentinean Salvage Master flew from Buenos Aires to Macapa on the 6th May 2010 and boarded the casualty at midnight on the 7th May.

The only available powerful tug "REBRAS IGUACU" (4,425 BHP, 62 TBP) was contracted and sailed from Sao Luiz to the casualty's position on the 7th May. Upon completion of inspections and calculations it was found that the vessel was aground from the middle of hold no.5 to approximately 5metres in the way of the superstructure and only on her port side. A preliminary salvage plan was prepared and submitted to the coast guard for approval.

During the afternoon high water on the 8th May, a re-floating attempt was performed by using the ship's engine, but with no success. At 07.30hrs on the 9th May, the tug "REBRAS IGUACU" arrived and immediately positioned herself in order to scour the mud from beneath the ship's hull on the port side by way of hold no.5 and superstructure. After a few hours the vessel started swinging and her heading began to change. With the assistance of the tug and the ship's engine, the vessel was successfully refloated at 12.10hrs. Following the instructions from port authorities, the vessel, under pilot and escorted by the "REBRAS IGUACU", proceeded to the port of Macapa for inspections by the authorities. However, when the vessel was in the vicinity of Ilha Pedreira, she ran aground again. Immediately the salvage master instructed the "REBRAS IGUACU" to connect the tow line at the ship's bow, and awaited for high water to attempt to refloat the vessel. Under command of the salvage master, with the assistance of tug and ship's engine, the vessel successfully refloated at 22.00hrs. For safety reasons, due to shallows, the tug remained connected up to Macapa roads.

On the 10th May, the vessel was inspected by port authorities. Following the inspections the vessel sailed under pilot from Macapa on the 11th May, escorted by the tug "REBRAS IGUACU" and with the salvage master onboard. The tug was released and the salvage master disembarked at Espadarte at Para River. The M/V "MONICA P" resumed on her voyage to Europe.

On 3rd May 2010, we dispatched tug "MALIKA" from Dakar, to the assistance of M/V "MOUNT ATHOS" (GT 4,105, DWT 6,587), laden with 4,543 MT of raw cane sugar in bulk, disabled about 300 miles north of Dakar.

The vessel was safely towed to Dakar – arrived 7th May 2010.

On Tuesday 30th March 2010, we deployed salvage tug "MEGAS ALEXANDROS" from her Piraeus salvage station, for the towage of the Passenger/Cruise vessel "OCEAN MAJESTY" (GRT 10,417) from Piraeus passenger terminal.

The vessel was safely towed to Chalkis Shipyard - arrived on 31st March 2010.

On 4th March 2010, we dispatched salvage tug "TSAVLIRIS UNITY" from her Galle (Sri Lanka) salvage station, to the assistance of Motor Tanker "TAXIARCHIS" (GT 45,140, DWT 85,000) disabled about 120 nautical miles south of Dondra Head, south off Sri Lanka coast.

The vessel was safely towed to Galle – arrived 5th March 2010.

On Sunday 28th February 2010, we dispatched tug "HERMES", from her Patras station, to the assistance of the motor yacht "BARRACUDA" (67 GT, 21metres in length), which had grounded about 12 nautical miles from Patras.

The "BARRACUDA" was successfully refloated on the 1st March at 03.15 hrs; the yacht was subsequently towed by "HERMES", with our salvage master in attendance onboard, to safe berth at Patras port at 06.20 hrs. On the same day, she subsequently moved to Patras berth No.3, and was safely delivered to her owners.