SALVAGE DOWN UNDER 

On 25 August 2002, the 309 meter bulk carrier HANJIN DAMPIER, loaded with 220,000 tons of iron ore, suffered engine failure and ran onto an underwater outcrop just outside the port of Dampier in Western Australia. SVITZER Salvage Singapore and SVITZER Salvage IJmuiden had man and hardware capacity close by and received recovery instructions from the owners. The plan was to unload sufficient cargo to lighten the vessel and with the help of the tide, tugs and talent, to ease the vessel off the rocks without expensive damage to her hull. Unloading gear was hired locally and 5,500 tons of iron ore removed. In a complex environment of tidal currents and with the help of four Riverwijs harbour tugs and one chartered sea going tug, the team succeeded in re-floating the vessel on 8 September. Hull damage: paintwork only.