ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, September 1st, 2011 – The Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VSIR) is informing the public that the Tropic Sun, a cargo vessel which ran aground the Wreck of the RMS Rhone Marine Park at the western extremity of Salt Island on Sunday, August 28 was safely removed yesterday.

According to officials from the National Parks Trust, the marine park did not suffer any damage during the grounding and removal of the cargo vessel and is now safe for boaters, yachters, mariners and visitors and residents alike in the cruise and sailing industry.

According to Captain Baboucar Sallah the cargo vessel is currently anchored between Beef Island (The Bluff) and Buck Island awaiting an underwater examination by specialist divers as appointed by the vessel’s classification society, Bureau Veritas.

Captain Sallah said the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry received a copy of the salvage plan from the salvors yesterday.

He said, “This salvage plan was reviewed by our department and comments were returned to the salvors and ship-owner along with a request for confirmation that our concerns were being met.”

He added that his department and relevant government agencies including the BVI Ports Authority, National Parks Trust, Conservation and Fisheries and the Department of Disaster Management met at the Virgin Islands and Shipping Registry’s office with the ship-owner’s representatives and the salvor to discuss and approve specifics of the salvage operation.

He explained that some of conditions that had to be met during the salvage operation included confirmation that all precautions would be taken to minimise the effect on the marine park; the need for a third tug to be on standby near the vessel’s bow during the refloating operation; a local pilot must be on board during the operation, a letter of appointment of the salvor by the ship-owner must be provided and the ship-owner is to provide evidence of insurance coverage to including salvage, wreck removal and third party damage.

Other important conditions included ensuring that oil spill containment booms and other necessary equipment were readily available to guard against the event of oil spillage pollution; the salvors were to maintain communications with the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry throughout the refloating operation, upon completion of the refloating operation the vessel was to be removed (under pilotage) to a safe anchorage as decided by the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Captain Sallah explained that the refloating operation started at 7:00p.m. yesterday, adding that taking advantage of the rising tide the vessel floated free at 10:10p.m. and was moved away from the grounding site with the assistance of two tugs.

He further added that the vessel’s main engines were employed very judiciously to assist as necessary from time to time.

The role of the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VISR) is to implement the Maritime policies of the Government covering shipping operations, safety of life at sea, security and the prevention of, and response to, pollution from ships.

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