Boka-Glacier Vessel Reviews and Specifications

The barge 'AMT Challenger', previously lost by the tug 'Boka Glacier', ran aground on the Sotteville beach on December 8, 2024. It was refloated on December 28 by the salvage vessel 'Multrasalvor 5' (IMO: 8871625), which was dispatched from Dieppe and managed the operation within four hours. Following the successful refloating, the barge was escorted to Le Havre by the tug 'Abeille Horizon'. On January 10, the 'AMT Challenger' departed from Le Havre under the tow of the tug 'En Avant 26' (IMO: 9985277). The convoy is en route to Gdansk, with an estimated arrival date of January 18. Upon reaching Gdansk, the barge, owned by Maltese company Augustea Maritime Transportation, is scheduled to undergo necessary repairs. For further details and images, visit: https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/marine-marchande/la-barge-amt-challenger-est-partie-du-havre-pour-etre-reparee

On December 28, 2023, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the tugboat 'Abeille Horizon' successfully refloated the stranded barge 'AMT Challenger' off the Normandy coast, specifically between Valéry-en-Caux and Dieppe. The 'AMT Challenger' had been marooned since December 8 after it became unmoored from the 'Boka Glacier' due to the treacherous conditions brought on by Storm Darragh, which also hampered earlier recovery efforts. Despite multiple attempts to establish a tow during the storm, it wasn’t until the arrival of 'Abeille Horizon' and its counterpart, the 'Multrasalvor 5', that a successful recovery was achieved. The two vessels reached the site before 5 a.m., and following a coordinated effort, the 'Multrasalvor 5' was able to set sail with the 'AMT Challenger' in tow just 2.5 hours later, bringing an end to the barge's two-week ordeal.

Salvage efforts for the 'AMT Challenger', which has been stranded on the shores of Sotteville-sur-Mer since December 8 after breaking free from the 'Boka Glacier', have been put on hold. The intention was to continue operations after the Christmas holiday; however, unfavorable weather forecasts between December 19 and 22, predicting strong northerly winds and heavy swells, have necessitated a pause in essential preparation work for towing the barge from the beach. Following a preliminary inspection, the salvage proposal has been submitted to both the maritime prefectures of Channel-North Sea and Seine-Maritime. Currently, the examination of the 24 ballast tanks and their seals is ongoing and must be temporarily halted until conditions improve. Consequently, mayors of the towns Veules-les-Roses, Sotteville-sur-Mer, and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer have issued prohibitory beach orders to ensure public safety, making it illegal to approach the barge at this time. For additional details, check the full report with images here: https://actu.fr/normandie/sotteville-sur-mer_76683/la-barge-amt-challenger-va-passer-noel-sur-la-plage-de-sotteville-sur-mer_62023122.html