Sailing Yacht “TAMARITA”
On 9 July 2024, the 47-metre Sailing (Perini Navi) Yacht “TAMARITA” stranded on Panagia Reef, off Paxoi Island, Ionian Sea, Greece with significant listing to port side and water ingress. This is an environmentally sensitive area, included in the Natura 2000 network with Europe’s most valuable habitats.
Tsavliris mobilised immediately local divers from Paxoi and Corfu Islands to attend on site and control the water ingress with diesel driven pumps and underwater patching.
On 10 July, Tsavliris mobilised their Patras-based S/T “PROTEAS” (BHP 3,200 – BP 45) to the assistance of the casualty. Additionally, Tsavliris mustered a Salvage Team consisting of professional divers & salvage technicians, together with salvage equipment. Moreover, the antipollution vessel OSV “AEGIS” (BHP 5,282 – BP 62), operated by EPE, was also deployed from Piraeus.
Underwater inspections by the Diving Team, revealed severe damage by way of hull forward (port and starboard side) with significant water ingress. All necessary precautions were taken to prevent marine pollution and reef damage. Water pumping, temporary patching and repairs continued. Bunkers on board the yacht (about 30,000 litres of marine gasoil) were transferred to the “AEGIS” and then loaded onto tanker trucks for delivery to the casualty’s sistership in Attica.
Special calculations indicated that the yacht could not be refloated without the assistance of a heavy lift crane due to rock protrusion. On 21 July, the vessel was successfully refloated with the assistance of the floating crane C/B “CLAIRE” (220 tonnes), towed to the casualty by the T/B “PANTOKRATOR”. Preparation for towage continued with further repairs.
On 25 July, following Port Authorities’ permission, towage to a Shipyard in Perama commenced by S/T “PROTEAS” through the Corinth Canal, arriving safely at destination on 27 July. The entire operation was completed successfully without any marine pollution.
