Wreck Removal at the End of the World

RESOLVE Salvage & Fire was contracted to provide cargo & wreck removal services to the RoRo Ferry AMADEO I which had grounded on the very southern tip of Chile near the entrance to the Magellan Straits.

The vessel was partly submerged, listing 70 degrees and in jeopardy of sliding into deep water. An extensive mobilization effort ensued utilizing assets from across the globe including the 134 ton bollard pull (tbp) tug RESOLVE EARL, the 78tbp tug RESOLVE COMMANDER, and the deck cargo barges, RMG 302 and RMG 280. 

Twenty five (25) of RESOLVE’s custom-built 325MT hydraulic chain pullers along with 5000 meters of 76mm chain and with various other specialized salvage equipment were mobilized from RESOLVE’s warehouses in Mobile, Alabama, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and as far away as Singapore, Mumbai, Gibraltar, Rotterdam and Cork.

Upon reaching the casualty site, the first priority was establishing a hold back system to ensure the vessel did not slide into deeper water further complicating the project. A specialized hydraulic drilling system was utilized to drill 28 anchor points along the shore whilst avoiding any damage to the sensitive environment.

Due to the remote location and lack of available resources, an extensive contingency and redundancy plan was developed to ensure all logistical challenges were met and spares for all equipment were available onsite. Otherwise, a simple equipment failure could have led to project delays and subsequent cost implications.   

Salvage Master Andy Butts and the crew worked tirelessly in freezing conditions for 4 months to successfully upright and refloat the vessel, ensuring the safe removal and disposal of HAZMAT cargo, residual oils, cargo, trucks, trailers and other vehicles onboard. RESOLVE’s high standards for pollution control and remediation – elevated from experience with the RENA in New Zealand – helped to comply with Chile’s stringent environmental regulations.

RESOLVE also partnered with local organizations to ensure a constant Chilean presence throughout the project. RESOLVE worked closely with all stakeholders including owners, owners P&I, authorities and consultants to ensure a successful operation.

On September 21, 2015, the AMADEO 1 was scuttled in 2,700 meters of water approximately 70 km from Diego de Almagro Island, Chile.