The self-discharging bulk carrier 'Yeoman Bontrup' has been returned to its owners after a complex four-day salvage operation following a fire that had broken out in the conveyor belt system during loading operations.
The 100,000DWT reported a serious fire whilst moored at the remote Glensanda SuperQuarry in Morvern, opposite the Isle of Lismore in the United Kingdom on July 2.
Due to the remote location the Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) 'Anglian Sovereign' attended and firefighters from the Highlands and Islands Fire Service Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) were transported to the scene by helicopter and boat. There were no serious casualties
The fire spread from the conveyor to the accommodation and the top of the engine room, resulting in an explosion caused by liquids detonating in the steering compartment. Smit Salvage and J P Knight had signed a joint salvage agreement.
'Anglian Sovereign', which has a substantial fire fighting capability, carried out 'boundary cooling' to help prevent the spread of fire and further hull damage, and as a base for the salvage team. Two harbour tugs from the Clyde were contracted to stand by to hold the ship in position in the lack of operable of mooring winches on the ship's stern.
The 13-strong salvage team finally succeeded in extinguishing all of the fires onboard on July 6. With the situation stable, the discharge conveyor was swung back onboard and the casualty moved clear of the berth and taken to a safe anchorage on July 9 by the 'Anglian Sovereign' and local tugs.
'Yeoman Bontrup' was handed over to its owners in Ijmuiden, the Netherlands, on the July 31.
