The Gibraltar Port Authority has confirmed that the operation to raise both sections of the OS 35 wreck out of the water was successfully completed on 3 July. The two sections of the hull are now safely on top of the semi-submersible vessel Fjord.
Surveys of the seabed will begin today, 4 July, to ensure that the wreck site of the OS 35 is completely cleared, and once these are concluded, the operation will draw to a close.
As was anticipated, the raising of the two sections completely out of the water has released residues, including heavy oil residues into the protective boom that was deployed around the vessel. Work is ongoing to clear these residues within the boomed area and to tackle the consequent sheening, which is coming off the boomed section.
This is expected to continue throughout the day, and possibly into tomorrow. The public are asked to keep away from the area to facilitate these clearance works, and to stay away from and respect the additional preventive booms which have been placed as a protective measure at beaches on the Eastside.
Also read: Operation to lift bow of OS 35 shipwreck underway
Fjord to leave in few weeks’ time
The Fjord is expected to remain in Gibraltar waters for a couple of weeks, as the hull sections are further secured and “sea-fastened” in preparation for the voyage to the final decommissioning site in the Netherlands. Once preliminary works are completed in securing the hull sections as well as the clearing of the residues from within the boom, the Fjord will move away from its current location to a suitable anchorage berth.
The fact that the hull sections are now completely out of the water effectively means there is no further danger of additional releases of residues from the wreck, once what has already been released is cleared.
Watch a video of both sections being placed on the semi-submersible Fjord in the Tweet below.
OS 35 sinking
On 29 August 2022, the OS 35 collided with LNG tanker Adam LNG in the Port of Gibraltar. Although the tanker only suffered minor damage, the bulk carrier suffered a ten by four-metre gash in the starboard side of the hull and was making water. It was directed to a location off Catalan Bay to beach and the bow went underwater.
Two days later, the hull broke, but the two parts did not fully separate yet, this happened later, in April, when the wreck was battered by severe weather.
The vessel is sitting 700 metres off the shoreline of Catalan Bay. Since its grounding, salvors have removed as much fuel oil and diesel oil from the vessel as possible as well as the rest of the inventory and cargo. The accident has resulted in several oil spills, with some oil reaching the shorelines.
Picture (top): An older picture of the wreck still partially submerged by the Gibraltar Port Authority.
Also read: Gibraltar Port Authority reveals OS 35 wreck removal plan
