Ardent rights and refloats vessel grounded in Gota River

Prior to parbuckling, the vessel was resting with a 54-degree list with water ingress.

MARCH 22, 2016 — Ardent salvage crews have successfully used a parbuckling method to right and refloat the cargo vessel, M/V Sternö.

The 1,350 dwt vessel, owned by Sweden’s Fiducia Rederi AB, ran aground on the night of Friday, February 24, in Sweden’s Gota River near the lock in Lila Edet.

The vessel was loaded with 1,400 tons of grain when it suffered a collision and came to rest on a jetty structure with a 54-degree list.

Ardent crews were mobilized in late February, completed the operation, and delivered the vessel earlier today.

“We mobilized salvage craft and equipment, connected three strand jacks to bollards on the opposite side of the river to parbuckle the vessel,” said Johan Foks, Ardent Salvage Master. “There were a lot of elements that we had to battle. The icy weather and the traffic on an active ship channel were big considerations.” s.

“The parbuckle operation corrected the list to 11 degrees, and then we lightered the cargo for the refloating operation,” said Rob Rutten Ardent’s Naval Architect for the M/V Sternö. “Once we pumped the water out of the engine room and holds, the vessel refloated and was stabilized at a four degree list. We maneuvered the vessel through the locks and moored it quay-side for remaining cargo discharge. The vessel was at a two degree list once we were finished.”

The vessel was then towed by the tugs Svitzer Bob and Svitzer Bonden from Lila Edet to Gothenberg..

On March 9, Ardent refloated the M/V Skagern (see earlier story) with a separate team, 7.5 km upstream from the M/V Sternö on the river Göta älv.