Working Conditions Aboard the Elisa

On the evening of October 4, 2018, a disturbing incident unfolded aboard the barge 'Isa' when a crew member experienced a severe medical emergency. At approximately 7:35 p.m., the tugboat 'Bodo Constructor,' located four nautical miles off the coast of Büsum, promptly notified the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) of the German Society for Rescue at Sea (DGzRS) about the situation. This prompted an immediate response from the lifeboat 'Theodor Storm' based in Büsum, which rushed to the scene with a team of two doctors and medical personnel. Thanks to the swift actions of fellow crew members, the victim was resuscitated and regained consciousness just before the lifeboat’s arrival. After dropping off the medical team, the tugboat, now escorted by 'Theodor Storm,' made its way back to Büsum, where medical treatment continued during the journey. Upon reaching the port, an ambulance was ready to transport the affected crew member to the hospital for further care.

The salvage effort for the lavish yacht 'P6T2,' valued at £1.8 million, has been temporarily halted after it was confirmed that the vessel has disintegrated on the sea bed. Monitoring of the yacht’s location had been ongoing, but adverse weather conditions experienced last weekend are believed to have contributed to its recent deterioration. On December 20, the Salvage Master made the difficult decision to suspend operations after consulting with the Harbour Master and reaching an agreement with the yacht's insurance provider. After two days of intensive, round-the-clock diving operations, some items, including a complete engine, were successfully retrieved. However, a thorough inspection of the vicinity revealed that the yacht had succumbed to the forces of nature, complicating the chances of recovering the entire structure. The salvage team returned to St Helier Harbour late on December 20 with the salvaged items and was scheduled to depart the Island the following day, December 21. Throughout this challenging process, Ports of Jersey has maintained close communication with the environmental department and collaborated with Oil Spill Response Limited in the UK to assess any potential ecological repercussions. Fortunately, the discovery of the engine indicates the likelihood of fuel loss; however, the lack of reported surface oil suggests that any leaked oil has already dissipated and broken down. For further details, visit the full report and accompanying photo here: https://jerseyeveningpost.com/breakingnews/2017/12/20/sunken-yacht-has-broken-up-on-seabed/#C1Pdvt7CXRpKP4IQ.99

A specialized team of 20 salvage experts, featuring 14 divers along with a salvage master, barge master, and dive master, arrived in Jersey on the evening of December 17, 2017. They are now collaborating with officers from the Marine Services Team at Jersey Harbours to coordinate the recovery of the luxury yacht "P6T2." The tugboat "Isa," towing a 30-meter heavy lift barge, departed from the port of Antwerp on December 16, with an anticipated arrival in St. Helier on December 18. The yacht sank in St. Aubin’s Bay after colliding with the Ruaudiere Buoy and was subsequently relocated to deeper waters off St Brelade’s Bay. Approximately 2,000 litres of diesel remain in its tank, raising concerns about potential fuel leaks during the salvage process. The operation is set to officially commence on December 19, with salvage vessels expected to anchor at the accident site. The actual raising of the yacht is slated to begin on December 20 and may take between one to two days to complete. This intricate operation involves two teams of divers and significant equipment imported to assist in the recovery, including a 200-tonne crane and a decompression chamber placed on the heavy lift barge. To ensure safety during the operation, a maritime exclusion zone will be enforced, restricting access to the western approaches for all commercial and leisure traffic starting from 8 a.m. on December 19. Additionally, a drone exclusion zone will also come into effect from that morning. The incident, which resulted in the yacht sinking just minutes after striking the buoy on the evening of November 17, required firefighters to rescue two individuals aboard the service's inshore rescue boat. This accident occurred shortly after the RNLI closed the St Helier lifeboat station, transferring the George Sullivan all-weather lifeboat to Poole following a protracted dispute with the local crew. For further information and visuals of the salvage operation, please visit: https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2017/12/19/salvage-team-of-20-to-raise-18m-yacht/#ED92zVOZfF2MHlkJ.99