Solomon Trader

Kangava Bay, Rennel Island | Solomon Islands

Resolve Marine was contracted to safely remove the Solomon Trader grounded on a coral reef in Kangava Bay, Rennell Island, part of the Solomon Islands. The bulk carrier, loaded with over 10,000 metric tons of bauxite and an estimated 100 tons of fuel oil, ran aground adjacent to the world’s largest raised coral atoll and UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its pristine beaches and endemic marine life. While Resolve Marine’s salvage teams mobilized to site, the situation was further complicated when Cyclone ORMA passed over, causing heavy fuel oil to leak from the already grounded vessel. Resolve Marine was then contracted to clean the spilled oil that now covered the virgin shorelines of Kangava Bay.

Resolve Marine’s response assets were directed from USA, Australia and Singapore to Honiara, the Capital of the Solomon Islands. From there they were repackaged and transported to Rennell Island. The island’s lack of infrastructure, amenities and resources complicated logistics requiring management teams to direct operations from Rennell Island, Honiara and Brisbane, Australia.

The Solomon Trader engine rooms and cargo holds were fully flooded through tears, up to 4 m long, in the hull. The Solomon Trader, with its full cargo and fuel tanks, presented a logistical, engineering and environmental challenge that required careful coordination as engineers, working with the Solomon Island Government, crafted plans to lighter cargo and fuel, refloat the vessel, and conduct a thorough oil spill clean-up.