Rocknes Successfully Parbuckled

On March 30, 2004, the parbuckling of MV ‘Rocknes’ in Agotnes, Norway, was completed successfully by SMIT Salvage. After two months of preparations, the final stage of the parbuckling process started March 27. In a two-day-long unique operation the vessel was pulled upright from its upside-down position with only a small starboard lift remaining.

For this operation the salvors used the Dive Support/Salvage Vessel ‘SMIT Orca’, two immersion and salvage pontoons mounted on a semi-submersible flattop barge which together supported the pulling winches, and a supporting barge. A Heavy Lift Cranebarge that was held on standby during the parbuckling to help out in case additional power was required to force the vessel into its rotating movement was not called into action.

On March 28, after pulling the vessel into this 130-degree gradient, salvors pumped water out and air into the vessel in order for it to reach its original draft depth. A special team then proceeded with the conservation of onboard instruments and machinery, while the salvors sprayed parts of the vessel with anti-corrosion material. In the coming days the engine room will be dewatered and conserved and the derigging of the vessel will commence. The ‘Rocknes’ is a 544.6 ft. Dynamic Positioned Flexible Fallpipe Vessel that capsized in January 2004 after hitting a shallow in the Vatlestraumen strait near Bergen, Norway. In this accident, 18 crewmembers lost their lives.

SMIT Salvage was awarded the LOF 2000 Scopic contract for the recovery of the vessel shortly after the incident. Eide Marine Services AS from Bergen was signed as subcontractor.