Wreck of Sunken Bulker Removed From Gibraltar Waters

The government of Gibraltar has announced the successful removal of the sunken ship OS 35 from the waters. Two sections of the shipwreck were lifted from the water near Gibraltar and placed on the semi-submersible vessel “FJORD.” The wreck had been in place since August 30, 2022.

During the removal process, residues including “heavy oil residues” and debris were released within the protective boom surrounding the wreck. Ongoing efforts are underway to clear these residues. The public is advised to stay away from the area for their safety.

The vessel Fjord will remain in the waters for a few weeks to ensure the secure placement of the hull sections before preparing for transportation to be decommissioned in the Netherlands.

Following the removal of the shipwreck, surveys of the seabed will be conducted to thoroughly clear the site. This marks the conclusion of the 10-month operation to remove the shipwreck.

OS 35 was a Tuvalu-flagged bulk carrier that collided with an anchored LNG carrier named “ADAM LNG” in the Bay of Gibraltar on August 29, 2022. While the LNG carrier sustained minimal damage, the bulk carrier suffered significant damage. The damaged bulk carrier was then anchored off Catalan Bay, at the opposite end of the Gibraltar peninsula. Over time, the vessel partially sank and began to break down, releasing fuel oil into the waters. Last year, a team from Resolve Marine removed the oils during the initial salvage phase, leaving only oil residues on the wreck itself.

A strategic decision was made to sink the vessel completely in September of last year to prevent the ship from breaking apart in inclement weather. The wreck survived several storms and adverse weather conditions until March. However, particularly severe weather in April caused the damaged hull to completely separate.

By late April, the 33,632 tonnes of steel bars cargo on the vessel had been removed, eliminating potential environmental hazards.