Kaami

Isle of Skye, Scotland | United Kingdom

Contacted by vessel owners and underwriters, Resolve Marine responded to a cargo vessel grounded 6 miles (4.8 km) off Isle of Skye, Scotland’s northern coast. The cargo vessel, carrying eight crew and 1,900 tons of SRF pellets and 63 tons of fuel required patching of raptured cargo holds and ballast tanks, lightering of the cargo, and refloat operations. Overcoming unpredictable weather conditions and travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19, Resolve Marine mobilized teams from its US, EU, and Africa bases traveling as essential personnel and boarding the stranded vessel via helicopter to begin on-site assessments.

Initial search and rescue efforts by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) UK focused on safely evacuating the crew from the stricken vessel. Soon after, a Lloyds Open Form was agreed between Resolve Marine and the vessel’s owners. Working with U.K. Secretary of State’s representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP), MCA, and the Special Casualty Representative (SCR), a salvage plan was developed to mitigate pollution threats, stabilize the vessel, and prepare her for refloating. The vessel, grounded on an exposed rock pinnacle, required the response teams to patch ruptured cargo holds and ballast tanks, execute cargo lightering and refloat operations in order to safely tow the vessel to a dry-dock in Kishorn.