Grounded Fugro survey vessel towed safely to port

Fugro Mercator has been successfully towed to a shipyard for inspection, said Fugro. The geophysical survey vessel had run aground on the north coast of Elba, Italy last week.

"With no injuries to people and no harm to the environment, Fugro is thankful that the impact of the incident has remained limited," the company said in a statement.

The vessel will now be fully inspected at the shipyard and Fugro will also conduct a full review of the event to learn what caused the ship to run aground.

"We are very grateful to the Italian Coast Guard and our partners for their swift and effective response in evacuating our crew and salvaging the Fugro Mercator," said Erik-Jan Bijvank, Group Director Europe and Africa.

"The safety of our crew and the protection of the environment are our top priorities, and we are relieved that both were upheld during this challenging event."

Fugro Mercator was performing survey work for the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) as part of an Italian Government marine ecosystem restoration project.

Fugro said it is working with the client to ensure that the work is continued as quickly as possible. The Fugro Helmert will sail to the Mediterranean shortly to pick up the Mercator's project commitments.