Two more tugs coming for Ever Given salvage attempt

Ever Given’s technical manager Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), has confirmed that two more tugs are arriving to assist with the next attempt to re-float the stranded vessel, while also confirming that the bow thruster room and forepeak spaces, as revealed in Container News today.

Smit Salvage will lead the salvage operation and they will concentrate on removing the build up of mud on the port bow side of the vessel using a suction dredger, which can handle 2,000m³ of mud an hour.

“Another attempt to re-float the vessel earlier today, 26 March 2021, was not successful,” said BSM, however, the company added, “Smit Salvage team on board confirm there will be two additional tugs of 220 – 240tonnes bollard pull arriving by 28 March 2021 to assist in the re-floating of the ship.”

The tugs will arrive in time to catch the high tides expected from Sunday (28 March) to Tuesday (30 March).

Ever Given ran aground after experiencing high winds while transiting the narrowest part of the Suez Canal on 23 March. A number of attempts to re-float the vessel have failed. Should the vessel remain beached after the attempts at high tide it is expected that the vessel will need to have cargo, oil and water removed using specialist lifting gear, which could take weeks to complete.