ASRY accepts damaged vessel challenge

Stolt Valor, owned and operated by Stolt Tankers and Stolt-Nielsen, suffered a cargo tank fire and explosion off Farsi Island, Iran, while carrying 13,000 tonnes of MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), a volatile, flammable liquid chemical and petrol additive. The cause of the explosion is still unknown. 24 crew members were rescued by a US Navy destroyer. Neighbouring countries to Bahrain had declined to accept the ship.

ASRY’s initial works will include a safety inspection prior to any further investigation to ensure the vessel has no outstanding safety concerns. She will then be transferred alongside for a detailed investigation to be carried out in conjunction with the owners to determine the best course of action going forward.

Commenting on the job, ASRY’s Chief Executive Chris Potter said: “Most importantly we are committed to protecting the safety, security and the environment of Arabian waters, to which Stolt Valor posed a risk. Therefore, as the most experienced shipyard in the region, we see it as our duty to bring our 35 years of experience to bear on this challenging repair, where other yards were not willing.”

Safety and security of ASRY personnel remains the yard’s highest priority, and ASRY says its usual high standards will be met while undertaking all exploratory investigations.

Stolt Valor arrived at ASRY on 28 June in convoy with the three large tugs: 1,797gt AHTS Caribbean Fos, owned by Greece’sFive Oceans Salvage; the 450gt tug Pacific Typhoon, owned by Swire Pacific and the 1,290gt AHTS vessel Lamnalco Mesite, owned by Smit Lamnalco of Cyprus.

Commenting on the vessel’s passage into Bahrain’s approach channel, Hassan Ali Al Majed, the director general of Bahrain’s General Organisation of Sea Ports stated: “We are satisfied with the overall operation which entailed the involvement and cooperation of numerous Government agencies in ensuring the smooth and successful passage of the vessel into Bahrain’s waters and ASRY. I myself visited the ship today as it docked in ASRY and am confident that the salvaging process will be carried out under the highest standards.”