A SMELLY SITUATION QUICKLY RESOLVED
20 March 2009
Can you smell something?
The Residents of Southampton awoke to a smelly situation on Friday, 20th March 2009. Had someone forgotten to flush their lavatory? No, the motor tanker “HUMBER STAR” on contract to Southern Water with a full cargo of raw sewage collected from near sewage farms, sank at her moorings in the middle of the Port of Southampton. Apart from that sinking feeling, part of her effluent cargo escaped and also some of her oil bunkers from her fuel tanks.
At first light, the scale of the potential environmental disaster was clear. There could be massive environmental pollution from both “HUMBER STAR”’s sewage cargo, as well as her bunkers. Teams from the Environmental Agency, Southern Water, Harbour Authority and other government agencies rushed on site, both by land and sea, all jostling in their wellington boots.
Two sets of protective booms were quickly deployed around the wreck of the vessel and a 24 hour watch organised.
Partner Richard Morris and Assistant Nick Donnelly from our London office drew the short straw and were dispatched urgently on site to assist Owners and the P&I Club involved. They represented the crew and owners during the various “grilling” interviews by government regulatory authorities, as well as assisting Owners and the Club in organising the raising of the wreck. “HUMBER STAR”’s Owners came under immediate intense pressure from the Port and the Environmental Agency to raise the vessel, remove the hazard to the environment and dispose of the cargo as quickly as possible. To this end, we liaised with and gave assurances to the various Authorities, professional marine salvage contractors from the Medway and Holland were selected and engaged. We quickly drew up a detailed wreckfixed salvage contract with the work starting before the ink was dry.
The tanker was not in its first flush of youth and the wreck was now worthless due to her damage, but her raw sewage cargo imposed an expensive liability on her Owners. A buyer was quickly located during the salvage operation and we sold the wreck, with her smelly cargo, therefore neatly avoiding further exposure to continuing environmental liability and expenditure.
The Salvors deployed one of their sheer leg cranes from Holland and, with a combination of hauling and pumping out, the vessel was raised and delivered to her new owner.
This was a highly efficient and totally successful salvage operation, which only occupied a few days from start to finish, pleasing the Port of Southampton and the Authorities. A crisis resolved without the drama.
For further details about the case please contact Richard Morris