On 6 April 2008 the tug "BB OCEAN" was dispatched from its salvage station at Stavanger to assist the bulk carrier "ATLANTIC PRIDE" (1978 built, 41,264grt) laden with approximately 55,000mt iron ore concentrates, which had become disabled in a position about 100Nm northwest of Bergen and about 30Nm west of the nearest coast.

Hull interests contracted with Greek professional salvors, Tsavliris on Lloyd's Form terms.

The Tsavliris sub-contracted tug "BB OCEAN" towed "ATLANTIC PRIDE" to Rotterdam where the LOF services terminated.

"ATLANTIC PRIDE" sustained significant damage to her crankshaft which may require renewing.

We are advising the insurers of the cargo in relation to both Lloyd's Form salvage defence and investigation of the loss/possible recovery.

During strong winds / a snowstorm on 8 March 2008, the heavily laden fully cellular container vessel "MSC SABRINA" (35,598 grt, built 1989) ran aground off section 20 of the Port of Three Rivers, Quebec in the St.Lawrence Seaway whilst on passage into Montreal from France.

There have been no reports of ingress of water or pollution. The casualty was aground for almost one month, dug into the clay bottom and out of her mean free floating draft by an estimated 2 metres. Tugs could not free her by tractive power alone. Over 400 loaded containers had to be discharged to the lightening vessel, MSC JASMINE before refloatation was possible.

The owners have declared General Average.

We act for insurers of part cargo.

On 31 March 2008 the fully cellular container ship "MSC LUGANO" (35,958 grt, built 1988), under time charter to MSC, suffered a fire in her engine room en route from Adelaide to Freemantle.

As a result, the vessel lost motive power and started drifting. The fire was successfully extinguished by the ship's crew. Significant damage was caused to the engine room. Whilst it became possible to restore electrical power, the main engine could not be restarted.

Owners contracted with tugs on commercial terms for assistance. The casualty is now under tow towards Freemantle. A provisional ETA of Sunday, 13 April has been given.

The shipowners declared general average and appointed Richards Hogg Lindley (Hellas) Limited as GA adjusters. General average security from cargo and containers in the form of underwriters' guarantees and receivers' bonds will be required before property is released.

We have been engaged by London insurers involved with part of the containerised cargo

The 1987 built, 153,471 deadweight tonnes crude oil tanker "POLAR" reported engine failure approximately 200km from Yanbu on or about 6 March 2008.

The vessel was on voyage from Yanbu to Aqaba in Jordan laden with approximately 129,500mt Arabian light crude oil.

M.T. "POLAR" broadcast a distress call and was towed back to Yanbu by Red Sea Marine Services ("RSMS") tugs. The shipowners declared general average and appointed Mediterranean Average Adjusting Company as GA adjusters.

The crude oil onboard m.t. "POLAR" has now been offloaded by way of a ship-to-ship operation at Yanbu port and is being delivered to Aqaba.

We act on behalf of those concerned with the oil cargo onboard m.t. "POLAR".

The Maltese Flag 1986 built general cargo / Ro - Ro vessel "ATLANTIC TRADER" (Ex" ARE") of 15,893 grt dragged her anchor on 19 March 2008 and was towed to Scapa Flow by the Klyne tug "ANGLIAN SOVERIGN" under the terms of a Lloyds Form Salvage Agreement.

The casualty loaded valuable steel products in St. Petersburg destined for Houston.

Salvage security equal to 10% of the CIF value of each shipment is required.

The shipowners declared General Average and appointed Mediterranean, in London as GA adjusters. GA security is being pursued from cargo.

"ATLANTIC TRADER" is now on her way to destination. She has an ETA IN Houston of the end of this month.

We are representing part cargo on the casualty.

On 5 January the 2004 built 27,059 grt container vessel "CMA CGM IGUACU" suffered a main engine breakdown off the French coast and was towed to Brest as a port of refuge by a Les Abeille International tug under the terms of Lloyd's Form.

The casualty is reportedly carrying 298 containers of general cargo.

The shipowners declared general average and appointed Stichling Hahn Hilbrich in Cyprus as general average adjusters. General average security is being sought from the individual cargo interests.

Salvage security is now required from all cargo interests in an amount equal to 6.5% of CIF values before the goods are released to receivers.

We represent those concerned with a number of shipments onboard m.v. "CMA CGM IGUACU".

Earlier in February 2008 the 2001 built 26,469 grt ro-ro vessel "UND ADRIYATIK" caught fire in position approximately 15 miles west of Rovinj during the course of a voyage from Tuzla to Trieste.

"UND ADRIYATIK" was carrying approximately 200 trucks and trailers and general / dangerous cargo.

Hull interests awarded a Lloyd's Open Form contract to Smit Salvage BV. Smit have now extinguished the fire and the vessel is at anchor off Trieste awaiting permission to enter Trieste for survey and repair purposes.

We represent German and UK insurers concerned with part cargo onboard the casualty. We have instructed a fire expert to board the vessel in Trieste to investigate the cause and effect of the fire.

On 30th January, whilst transiting the Suez Canal en route to Khorfakkan, the container carrier CMA CGM Don Carlos went aground. She was refloated with the assistance of tugs operated by the Suez Canal Authorities.

As a result of the grounding and subsequent salvage operation the vessel's Owners E.R.Rickmers have declared General Average and have appointed Stichling Hahn Hilbrich as GA adjusters.

GA security is required to be provided by cargo interests before the cargo will be released for delivery. No separate salvage security is required.

We have been appointed to assist certain cargo interests with regard to the General Average.

Earlier this month the 1976 built 1,733 grt general cargo vessel "SHEARWATER" suffered mechanical problems off Maputo whilst on the course of a laden voyage from Durban to Seychelles and Mahe carrying general cargo.

"SHEARWATER" was reportedly closing the coast and hull interests contracted with Smit Salvage BV on Lloyd's Form terms. The tug "SMIT AMANDLAR" successfully towed the casualty to a port of refuge.

Salvage security is now required from all cargo interests before the goods are released to the receivers.

This shipowners declared general average and appointed Richards Hogg Lindley in London as general average adjusters. General Average security is being sought from the individual cargo interests.

We represent those concerned with a number of shipments onboard m.v. "SHEARWATER".

We represent those concerned with a cargo of ethyl alcohol which was on board the vessel "W-O HANHAN" when, following a grounding on 29th December 2007, a Lloyd's Open Form salvage contract was signed. The vessel was on a voyage from Cuba to Ghana.