M / S “ RUZGAR “ ACCIDENT ON 9/3/2001
AT AL SHARK REEF / RAS MOHAMED , EGYPT
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NAME : RUZGAR – A
HOME PORT : VALLETTA
DATE OF BUILT : 1992
DESCRIPTION OF VESSEL : PLEASURE YACHT
- ON 13/3/2001 , THE BOAT “ RUZGAR “ RAN ON GROUND NEAR RAS MOHAMED IN THE NATIONAL PARK . THE CREW WERE ARRESTED BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE BOAT WOULD SINK CAUSING IMMENSE DAMAGE TO THE ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM DUE TO POLLUTION ( THERE WERE MORE THAN 2000 LITRES OF DIESEL FUEL ON BOARD ) .
- THE OWNER OF THE BOAT STATED THAT AFTER THE BOAT “ RUZGAR “ – WHICH WAS CONTROLLED BY HIM – LEFT SHARM EL SHEIKH HEADED TO SUDAN THENCE TO DJIBOUTI , A SUDDEN STOPPAGE WAS DONE TO THE CATERPILLAR 280 HP ENGINE MACHINE DUE TO THE TEMPERATURE OF IT , GOT HIGH , WATER CURRENTS PUSHED THE BOAT TO THE AREA OF CORAL ROCKS WHERE THE BOAT WAS AGROUNDED CONSEQUENTLY , THE CONTROLLER SENT A S.O.S .
- OUR INVESTIGATOR WENT TO THE SPOT OF THE INCIDENT , HE FOUND OUT THE FOLLOWING :-
- THE BOAT IS AGROUNDED AT ABOUT 2 METERS OF THE EDGE OF THE CORAL ROCKS .
- THE BOAT TURNED TO ITS LEFT SIDE 4 DEGREES ABOUT ANGLE OF 70° .
- A BREAKAGE OF 50 CM FOR 6 METERS LENGTH IS NOTICED TO THE FREE DECK FENCE .
- 175 LITRES OF SPARE FUEL WAS FOUND IN PLASTIC DRUMS .
- UNDER THE FULL SUPERVISION OF OUR SURVEYORS , THE SPARE FUEL WAS PICKED UP .
- AFTER LONG DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NATIONAL PARKS ( MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ) , THEY ASKED FIRSTLY FOR A NON – VOIDABLE LETTER OF CREDIT FOR US$ . 100’000 IN ADDITION TO GUARANTEE TO SETTLE ANY FURTHER SUMS THAT COULD BE AWARDED FOR DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY THE CORAL BANK BY THE BOAT IN EXCHANGE OF THAT THEY WILL GIVE THE PERMISSION TO THE AUTHORITIES TO RELEASE THE PASSPORTS OF ( THE OWNER , CREW AND THE GUEST )
- AFTER NEGOTIATION , OUR INVESTIGATOR SUCCEEDED TO CONVINCE THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL PARK ( MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ) TO ACCEPT A CHECK OF US$ . 50’000 IN ADVANCE .
- THE OFFICIAL LEGAL AUTHORITIES , INFORMED US THAT THEY WOULD APPOINT A WELL KNOWN COMPANY TO EXCUTE THE MISSION OF FLOATING OPERATION AND THE EXPENSES WOULD BE MORE THAN US$ 250,000 .
- THE EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS INSISTED TO HAVE A CHECK OF US$ . 50,000 IN ADVANCE ( AFTER THAT WE SUCCEEDED TO CONVINCE THEM HAVING ONLY US$ . 40’000 ) TO COVER THE EXPECTED DAMAGES .
- THE EGYPTIAN NAVY FORCES REQUESTED AN AMOUNT OF LEG . 12,600 AS DUE FOR THEIR SUPERVISION .
- SALVAGE OPERATION STARTED FROM 25/3/2001 TO 25/4/2001 IN A VERY BAD WEATHER IN THE FULL SUPERVISION OF OUR SURVEYORS, AS FOLLOWS :
- RECORDING BY VIDEO AND TAKING PHOTOES TO DETERMINE THE FINAL POSITION OF THE BOAT ( OVER AND UNDER THE SEA SURFACE ) .
- SEPARATE THE TWO MASTS TO DECREASE THE WEIGHT AND ADJUSTING THE BOAT LIST AND PULL THEM TO SHORE .
- SUCTION THE FUEL FROM TANKS TO AVOID THE POLLUTION WHICH MIGHT CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT .
- SEPARATE THE BOAT CABIN TO DECREASE THE WEIGHT AND PULL IT TO THE SHORE .
- STARTING FILLING THE HOLES IN THE UPPER PART BY THE WOOD AND PLASTICS .
- STARTING TO UPLEFT THE BOAT FROM STAR BOARD SIDE .
- PREPARING THE BOAT FOR FLOATING BY PULLING OUT THE WATER BY PUMPS .
- ON 5/4/2001 , OUR SURVEYORS PROCEEDED TO THE SPOT OF EL SHARK REEF WHERE THEY FOUND OUT THAT ALL PREPARATIONS HAVE BEEN COLLAPSED DUE TO THE VERY BAD WEATHER ( HIGH WAVES AND HEAVY WIND ) .
- THE NATIONAL PARKS OF EGYPT SENT US A FAX MESSAGE INFORMING US THAT IT WAS PREFERABLE TO SINK THE BOAT UNDER THE FULL SUPERVISION OF THE NAVY FORCES .
- UNDER THE FULL SUPERVISION OF OUR PART, THE BOAT WAS AFLOATED ON 10/5/2001 TO BE DREW TO THE SHORE, TO A SMALL GULF NAMED MARSA BRAIKA AT RAS MOHAMED AREA AS STIPULATED BY THE NATIONAL PARKS .
- THE BOAT WAS TO BE CONSIDERED A CONSTRUCTIVE TOTAL LOSS BUT WE SUCCEEDED IN AVOIDING ANY FURTHER CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES OR POLLUTION .
Conclusion
- THE FINAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PARKS OF EGYPT SHOWED THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSION :-
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- PERCENTAGE OF CORAL COVER 30 %
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- THE PERIOD INVOLVED FOR RECOVERING THE EFFECTIVENESS 20 YEAR
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- THE VALUE OF THE METER US$.120
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- TOTAL DAMAGES : 53 M2 × 30 % × 100 % × 20 YEARS × US$ 120 = US$.38160
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- THEY GAVE US A CERTIFICATE DATED 30/5/2001 BY WHICH THEY CERTIFY THAT WE PAID TO THEM THE AGREED DAMAGES FOR THE DAMAGE THAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT .
- THEY SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH US STATING THE FOLLOWING :-
- THE AGENCY AGREES TO RECONCILE WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OWNER OF THE BOAT “ RUZGAR “ AGAINST THE SUM BEING PAID OF US$. 40’000 . THAT IS THE WHOLE DAMAGES FOR THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY THE CORAL BANKS .
- THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CARGO SUPERVISION & SURVEYING OFFICE AND THE SWISS INSURANCE COMPANY THAT INSURED WITH THE BOAT “ RUZGAR “ IS TOTALLY ENDED WITH NO FURTHER CLAIMS, EITHER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE .
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