Removal of the grounded vessel will commence on Monday

The operation to remove the grounded vessel Hephaestus from Qawra will commence on Monday, Transport Malta has said.

The operation will commence following the approval of the wreck-removal-plan, and the granting of the environmental permit. The work is expected to take around thirty five days, a statement read.

The P&I Club, as insurers, had on behalf of the owners of the vessel issued a call for quotations to several potential contractors to commission the removal. Local contractors Cassar Ship Repair (CSR) were awarded the contract. CSR have started mobilising equipment and are undergoing the final preparations, before major works begin on Monday.

“The plan is to first mobilise and undergo a further in-depth risk assessment. The contractor will then render the vessel safe for personnel to enter inside. Once inside, personnel will clean all the compartments and close off all the breaches in the hull.” “With the help of specialised equipment, CSR will lift the vessel from the rocks and lower it back into the water. Once afloat, the wreck will be towed to the contractor’s ship repair facility in Marsa. Transport Malta and the ERA will monitor the operation.”

The vessel, a 60-metre tanker registered in Togo, had run aground in Qawra, during a storm on the 10 February. The crew returned to shore safely after abandoning the cargo-less vessel. Transport Malta appealed to the general public to observe no entry restrictions in the area so as not to impede the works and in the interest of safety.