Final Salvaging Works Include Refloating Of MV Southern Phoenix
Final salvaging works for the MV Southern Phoenix which had sunk nearly two years ago is in progress at the Suva harbor.
The 88 meter long, 4285 dwt cargo vessel Southern Phoenix capsized while loading containers at the Suva wharf on May 6, 2017.
The cargo vessel had begun to list to its port side as it continued to fill with water. Nothing could be done and the crew evacuated the vessel.
The mooring lines were then cut loose and a tug pulled the sunken Southern Phoenix away from the wharf to where it now lies.
Meanwhile Phase One of the salvaging works concluded on June 1, 2017 included the removal of oil, fuel and other hazardous substances on board the sunken vessel.
Phase Two had included the removal of the remaining cargo. Phase Three, is currently underway and that includes the removal of the wreck and the scuttling process of the vessel.
The sunken vessel was re-floated last week for its final stages of removal from the Suva Harbour.
All structures of the ruined vessel including its accommodation rooms have been cut off and sunk at the provided scuttling position of beyond 1000m in water depth outside the Suva Harbour.
Joint cooperation of vessel owner Cruz Holdings Limited, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited (FPCL) and Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) has provided positive results on the cargo vessel being removed says MSAF acting chief executive officer Captain Philip Hill.
“The ship is further stabilised at the sunken position, this is preparing to move the hull to the standby mooring for the final tow out to the scuttling position,” Captain Hill said.
“The hull of the ship is the remaining part of the vessel that needs to be scuttled,” he said.
Captain Hill has confirmed that all approvals from relevant authorities have been obtained last year prior to the commencement of the salvage operation.
No timeframe has been given in regards to completion works.
“As it is, there is no timeline for the scuttling operation,” he said.
“This is only because we want the scuttling operation to be done in a very careful and efficient manner and that the scuttling process does not pose any threat to other vessels in terms of navigation,” Cpt. Hill said.
