Reviews & Ratings for the Fugro-Mercator

The survey vessel 'Fugro Mercator' has been successfully refloated off the northern coast of Elba Island. On March 28, Fugro announced that the ship was safely towed back to Portoferraio port and placed on the shiplift at Esaom Cesa shipyard for necessary repairs. The grounding incident occurred on March 22 but thankfully resulted in no injuries or environmental damage. An investigation is currently underway to ascertain the reasons behind the grounding. The 'Fugro Mercator' was conducting important survey operations for the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) as part of the Marine Ecosystem Restoration (MER) Project initiated by the Italian government under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. This initiative aims to restore marine habitats, enhance the national system for monitoring marine and coastal ecosystems, and effectively map marine habitats throughout Italian waters. Fugro is collaborating with Italian partners, including Poliservizi Srl and Prisma, on these projects. Additionally, the endeavor includes the installation of two seabed tsunami early-warning stations located in the Sardinian Channel and the South Ionian Sea. To minimize disruptions caused by the grounding, Fugro is committed to maintaining the continuity of survey operations and will dispatch another vessel, the 'Fugro Helmert', to the Mediterranean to support the project efforts. For more insights, check out the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHKPPGcTkV8

On March 25, a crucial operational briefing took place, hosted by the Port Authority of Portoferraio, focused on the ongoing efforts to recover the 'Fugro Mercator'. The recovery operations commenced at dawn, supported by the vigilant naval units of the Portoferraio Coast Guard, ensuring a secure working environment. Underwater operators, alongside a tugboat and a floating pontoon, have initiated the process of emptying the vessel's fuel tanks, a task slated for completion by March 27. To further stabilize the ship's trim, high-capacity floating balloons have been strategically positioned. The entire operation is being overseen by the Port Authority of Portoferraio, with invaluable contributions from the shipping company’s representatives, the Pilots Corporation of the Port of Portoferraio, and the Mooring and Boatmen Group of Elba Island. Together, they are dedicated to facilitating these critical operations safely. Additionally, a safety ordinance is set to be issued to minimize interactions with local maritime traffic. For further details and visuals, please visit the following reports: [TEnews Article](https://www.tenews.it/2025/03/26/nave-fugro-mercator-iniziate-le-operazioni-di-messa-in-sicurezza-1118547/) | [Green Report](https://www.greenreport.it/news/inquinamenti-e-disinquinamenti/54813-allelba-e-iniziato-il-disincaglio-della-nave-oceanografica-fugro-mercator).

On March 22, 2025, at approximately 11:00 p.m., the research vessel 'Fugro Mercator' encountered a significant incident while conducting seabed monitoring near the Enfola promontory, close to Portoferraio. The vessel, attempting to find refuge from adverse weather conditions, veered too near the shoreline, ultimately running aground on a reef and becoming lodged against the rocky cliff. The grounding resulted in water breach into the ship's hull. While the onboard crew managed to initially contain the situation, the water damage extended to the engines, leading to a complete failure of all onboard systems. In response to the emergency, the Maritime Directorate of Livorno coordinated rescue efforts involving the Port Authority's patrol boat 'CP 805'. During the operation, all 11 crew members and technical personnel, who represented various nationalities, were safely evacuated with no injuries reported. The transfer of personnel was challenging due to the power blackout on the vessel, its precarious position near the rocks, and the strong undertow affecting the area. As investigations into the incident began, the Coast Guard aimed to determine the root causes, which may include the influence of fierce winds or potential mechanical failures in the propulsion systems. By March 23, an operational meeting convened at the Port Authority of Portoferraio, where stakeholders discussed the urgent need for environmental protection measures and the logistics of removing the vessel from its grounded position. Specialists in underwater recovery have commenced preliminary inspections to draft a comprehensive plan for the safe extraction of the ship. Fortunately, during aerial and naval monitoring conducted by the Coast Guard, no indications of marine pollution or fuel leaks have been detected. A collaborative salvage operation is in preparation, involving both local officials and international experts. For more details, you can view the report with photos and videos at: https://www.agenzianova.com/es/news/Un-barco-de-42-metros-encalla-en-Elba-y-once-tripulantes-son-rescatados/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfwfwNgWRdQ.