Bad weather in France has prevented two salvage barge cranes from sailing to the site of the wreck of the 35,362-dwt bulk carrier OS 35 (built 1999) off Gibraltar.
Dutch salvage firm Koole Contractors is working against the clock to remove the wreck. It signed a contract with the Gibraltar government to complete the job in May.
The tanker was deliberately grounded in late August after a collision with an anchored LNG carrier.
The Gibraltar government said the barges H10030 and KOOLE 31 have been trapped in the French port of Brest by poor weather, but it said it is still hopeful they will be able to sail in the next few days.
“It is not ideal that some assets are still stuck in France due to bad weather, but hopefully in the coming days there will be an opportunity for the barges to begin their journey to Gibraltar,” said Gibraltar port captain John Ghio.
“Once those assets are on site, we will continue to follow the plan that will see the complete removal of the OS 35 during May this year,” he added.
Some progress has already been made on the wreck removal. Crane barge H283 has arrived at the site of the wreck.
Crane booms are being removed to allow work to begin on taking off the ship's cargo. Fuel oil and other pollutants were removed from the wreck shortly after it grounded.
Insurance sources estimate the wreck removal will cost around $70m to complete.
The vessel was insured with British Marine which is backed by the QBE insurance group.
