Titan Re-Floats IMaersk La Guaira

On March 7, 2002 the 19,520-dwt, 515 x 78 x 42 ft. (157 x 23.7 x 12.8 m) Maersk La Guaira, fully laden with containers, lost power and ran aground while entering Guayaquil Harbor in Ecuador.

Titan Maritime immediately responded with a two-man survey team from Panama, who boarded the vessel for a damage survey and to create a salvage plan. With the plan approved by owners, Titan was awarded the refloating contract and mobilized an additional five man team from their Fort Lauderdale, Fla. headquarters and Brazil offices.

Using locally contracted vessels, Titan lightered 46, 40-ft. refrigerated containers from the vessel for a total of 900 tons.

As the cargo was removed, the weight was replaced with ballast water to ensure the vessel remained in place until a controlled re-floating operation commenced.

With local tugs in place, Titan removed ballast and re-floated the vessel on the evening tide of March 15, 2002.

The re-floating was a delicate operation that required precision to ensure the vessel did not contact rocks in the area.

The vessel was delivered to owners, safely afloat, in Guayaquil anchorage four days after contract was awarded to Titan.

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