Product tanker Theresa Arctic was refloated after being stuck for two weeks off the coast of Kilifi in Kenya, according to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
At least seven tugboats were used to pull the 1988-built vessel during the salvage efforts, which were conducted on July 12. By 1400 hours local time the operation was concluded as the ship berthed at the port of Mombasa.
Together with the Netherlands-based SMIT Salvage and the local salvage company Alpha Logistics, the KPA conducted the salvage task.
At the time of the incident, the tanker was loaded with 27,500 mt of vegetable oil. Prior to the refloating, Theresa Arctic’s weight was lightened by transferring the cargo on board its sister ship Theresa Dumai.
The authority added that the operations were halted at one point due to rough weather conditions at the site which obstructed the ship-to-ship transfer.
The tanker grounded on June 20 off the Kilifi Port entrance channel as a result of generator failure.
There were no reports of injuries or water pollution in the area following the grounding. The 84,000 dwt Theresa Arctic was sailing from Malaysia to Kenya when it ran into trouble.
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