"ISMINI", a 7,200 dwt cargo vessel, ran aground while exiting the port of El Arish, Egypt. During the incident, the vessel was fully laden with 7,000 metric tons of silica sand stowed in all three holds, with destination Gaeta, Italy.

Services were rendered in Egypt involving the provision of a salvage tug and a lightering vessel, as well as a salvage officer and divers. According to the diving inspection, the vessel was aground by way of her entire length and lightering of approximately 1,500 tons of cargo was required in order to refloat her. The salvage services were completed with the delivery of the casualty to Piraeus port.

TSAVLIRIS' most powerful tug "FOTIY KRYLOV" towed the Bulk Carrier "ANANGEL VENTURE" from San Lorentzo, Argentina to Fredericia, Denmark. The vessel was towed across the Atlantic for the fitting of a new rudder.

"GRAIN TRADER", a 30,000 dwt bulker laden with 28,200 metric tons of alumina in bulk, sailed from the Port of Esquivel (Jamaica) to Port Alfred (Canada) via rebunkering Port of Halifax (Canada). Whilst en route to the above port, the vessel experienced main engine problems and the voyage continued at reduced speed under heavy weather conditions.

On request for tug assistance by the vessel's master, TSAVLIRIS immediately dispatched a salvage tug, which sailed from its base at Halifax. The convoy arrived at Halifax and the "GRAIN TRADER" was safely delivered to her owners.

"GALAXY", a 10,270 dwt ro-ro vessel experienced main engine problems in a position 25 nautical miles south of Marsalla, Sicily, while en route from Tunisia to Palermo. The vessel was partly laden with laden containers and cars. As soon as an LOF agreement was signed on 29/01/2003 a motor tug was subcontracted by TSAVLIRIS SALVAGE INTERNATIONAL, which sailed from Augusta to assist the casualty.

Meanwhile, "GALAXY" managed to arrive and anchor by her own means at Palermo at 30/01/03.

The Aframax Tanker "KEYMAR" ran aground in ballast during a spell of very bad weather while at anchor off the new port of Skilda, awaiting permission to berth at the terminal. TSAVLIRIS salvage tug, "MEGAS ALEXANDROS", proceeded to assist the casualty, refloated her after strenuous efforts and towed her to Piraeus for repairs.

The Bulk Carrier "MADREDEUS", 44,300 dwt, laden with about 38,000 metric tons of hot steel coils, suffered structural damage due to impact with heavy ice floes about 90 miles west of St. Petersburg. Arrangements were made by TSAVLIRIS for three ice-breakers and a locally based salvage tug to assist the casualty to resume voyage outside Russian waters, where TSAVLIRIS salvage team could board the bulker by helicopter.

Damage inspection revealed water inside the hull to have frozen solid and temporary repairs (followed by dewatering) were carried out successfully. In deteriorating weather a second tug was added to the convoy and Madredeus was safely redelivered to her owners in Gdansk, where permanent repairs could be carried out.

The Bulk Carrier "AEGEAN SEA", 22,600 dwt, laden with about 11,000 metric tons of copper concentrates ex coquimbo and antofagasta and about 10,500 metric tons of zinc concentrates ex gallao, experienced engine problems due to explosion in turbocharge, southwest of Galapagos Islands.TSAVLIRIS immediately dispatched a subcontracted tug to assist the immobilised vessel.

The operation ended on April 22, where a safe delivery certificate was signed in Balboa, Panama.

"MAGNA GRAECIA", a 74,100 dwt Panamax bulker, ran aground at 530 km of Rio Parana on the 13th of April. The vessel was fully laden with about 33,800 tons of soya beans en route from Diamante to Rosario, for completion of loading and with destination the Far East.

The vessel was successfully refloated by subcontracted tugs under supervision of TSAVLIRIS' salvage Masters and was towed to Buenos Aires for rudder repairs.

Not all salvage contracts result in due reward,despite the salvor's best endeavours. A curious example of this occured in April 2003 when the 24,000 dwt Bulk Carrier "JUPITER", laden with milled wheat,ran aground off the Moshchnyy Islands near St. Petersburg. TSAVLIRIS was awarded an LOF to assist the vessel and a locally contracted tug was given permission to proceed to the casaulty. This permission was later rescinded on grounds the area was under military supervision ,and a commercial salvage operation was thus thwarted.

The case has since become mired in the Russian courts and, in spite of TSAVLIRIS' best efforts to uphold its contractual interests, lawyers advise that the wheat cargo remains shrouded in mystery; abandoned by its underwriters, it has nevertheless been discharged. Prospects of any payment at all under the salvage contract now seem dismal.

The Passenger Vessel "JET ONE", while on route from Santorini to Crete, in heavy sea, with passengers on board, sent a signal of distress, after there was water ingress in the fore peak tank. A subcontracted tug was immidiately dispatched and safely towed the vessel to Santorini on June 2.

The 41,400 dwt Bulk Carrier "NEW WIND", laden with about 40,000 tons of raw sugar in bulk, suffered engine failure about 100 miles east of Socotra, while en route from Thailand to the Black Sea. TSAVLIRIS subcontracted tug was engaged in refloating the vessel.

The Bulk Carrier "PANTOKRATOR", 25,400 dwt, laden with about 22,000 tons of wheat, while en route from Mississippi to Barranquilla in Colombia, reported grounding close to the mouth of the River Magdalena. TSAVLIRIS' subcontracted tugs rushed to the casualty and towed the vessel.

The Bulk Carrier "BASKA", 14,164 dwt, while in ballast condition, was immobilized due to engine failure near the North Channel, at the Irish Sea. TSAVLIRIS subcontracted tugs emerged to the casualty and all the necessary arrangements were made in order to refloat the vessel.

The 41,000 dwt Motor Vessel "LADY", while in ballast condition, grounded near Singapore. TSAVLIRIS subcontracted tug rushed to assist the vessel.

When the 9,000 dwt Motor Vessel "CARIBE C" ran aground in July 2003 off Namibe, Angola with a cargo of bagged sugar, the "NIKOLAY CHIKER" set out immediately from Cape Town and was to spend three months off its salvage station attending to the salvage operation, including lightering and eventual refloating of the stranded vessel.