zoomImage Courtesy: Lomar Shipping

Following the unsuccessful refloating attempt on October 9, salvage company Ardent is devising a new plan to move the stranded boxship from the reef off New Caledonia where it ran aground back in July.

According to New Caledonia’s government, Ardent plans to propose a new method of refloating the ship which aims to limit further damage to the ill-fated vessel.

Specifically, the plan is to use the rise of the tide to enable the ship to regain buoyancy and break free from the Durand Reef. The goal is to tow it out of the reef.

Additional preparations are being made for the new refloating attempt, including unloading of containers from the ship that remain still onboard.

As informed, substantial amount of work needs to be carried out before the next attempt to pull the ship free from the reef can be made. Initial estimates indicate that this will take at least four weeks should weather conditions be favorable.

Kea Trader ran hard aground on the Durand Reef on July 12. Damage assessments conducted by late September showed that the 2,194 TEU ship is beyond repair and would have to be recycled, the ship’s owner Lomar Shipping earlier said.

Underwater inspections identified extensive damage to the ship’s hull, rudder and propeller. Furthermore, there was also evidence of further structural damage within the vessel and additional deterioration being caused while the ship remains on the rock reef during rough swells.

World Maritime News Staff