Working Conditions Aboard the Kethi

The vessel formerly known as "Betanzos" has officially transitioned to her new identity as "Valsim S" after undergoing a series of critical repairs. The ship's owners supplied a new batch of spare parts in accordance with the recommendations provided by the class surveyor. Following the completion of extensive repair works, the Valsim S successfully left the Tuzla shipyard after conducting her sea trials on February 24. On the same day, she set sail for Izmit and docked at Derince, arriving on February 25 at 3:30 a.m.

On November 30, 2023, the 'Betanzos' completed its formalities and was towed by the tugboat 'Balaban' from Viana do Castelo, Portugal, to Tuzla, Turkey. The vessel is expected to arrive at the Tuzla shipyard on December 22. During its journey through the Canakkale Strait, a Coastal Safety tug was on hand to ensure both the safety of the 'Betanzos' and the smooth flow of maritime traffic in the strait.

In the early hours of March 16, around 2:30 a.m., the cargo vessel 'Betanzos' was successfully refloated following a grounding incident. The tugboat 'Fairmount Alpine' initiated the rescue operation by increasing its towing strength at midnight, effectively moving the ship to deeper waters. As dawn broke, additional tugs—including 'Monte Da Luz', 'Montemuro', and 'Montevil'—rallied around the distressed vessel to assist in guiding it toward Beato Dock in Lisbon. The 'Fairmount Alpine', equipped with a 2,000-meter towing wire, was ultimately deemed unfit for the subsequent maneuvering task. The 'Betanzos' is expected to reach the dock by approximately 10:00 a.m., where it will undergo thorough inspections, particularly focusing on the propeller and rudder. Initial assessments suggest that while the keel area of the ship may be intact, the propeller, which came into contact with sand, could have sustained damage that requires evaluation. Moreover, officials will determine whether the removed anchor needs to be retrieved before the vessel can set sail again. Upon completing the technical inspections, the shipowner will outline the necessary steps and strategies for the 'Betanzos’s' future operations. Following these events, the vessel departed Lisbon on March 27 at 6 p.m. and arrived at Estaleiros Navals de Viana do Castelo in Viana do Castelo Port for repairs on March 30 at 2 p.m. For further details, you can find Spanish reports and photos linked here: [Publico](https://www.publico.pt/2018/03/16/sociedade/noticia/navio-que-estava-encalhado-em-lisboa-ja-flutua-1806854/amp), [DN](https://www.dn.pt/portugal/interior/navio-que-estava-encalhado-em-lisboa-ja-flutua---autoridade-maritima-9191262.html#media-1), [Sabado](https://www.sabado.pt/portugal/detalhe/armador-espera-aguas-vivas-para-desencalhar-navio-betanzos), and the ship’s photos on [Shipspotting](http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2826288).