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Updated information regarding Marco Polo
As of NOV 08, 2023, 18:00 CET
After the successful refloating operation and the arrival of Marco Polo at the Port of Karlshamn on 2nd November 2023 a bunker removal operation took place directly after arrival at the Port of Karlshamn.
On Saturday, 4th November, Marco Polo transitioned to another berth in Port of Karlshamn to offload the cargo and passenger cars which was completed in the afternoon of the same day.
Marco Polo is planned to leave the Port of Karlshamn on Thursday afternoon, with the ultimate destination being a shipyard in Gdansk. The arrival in Poland is scheduled for Saturday morning. Three tugboats will provide the necessary assistance to facilitate the ferry's departure from the harbor, and subsequently, one tugboat will take over the remainder of the crossing, which is expected to take 37 hours. Upon reaching the shipyard, a comprehensive evaluation of the exact extent of the damage will be carried out and subsequently the repair works will start.
We will keep informing on the further developments through our information channels.
For further information
Press and media:
Contact: pr@ttline.com
Press release: Presse & Public Relations | TT-Line (ttline.com)
Updated information regarding Marco Polo
As of NOV 02, 2023, 07:00 CET
TT-Line confirms that yesterday's refloating operation was successful — a critical step towards ensuring the safety of the vessel while preventing further environmental impact.
Safeguarding the ship's integrity, given the presence of remaining heavy fuel oil and hazardous materials on board of Marco Polo, has been TT-Line's utmost priority. Thanks to the successful refloating operation, this objective was achieved. TT-Line expresses its gratitude for the support and professional cooperation with the Swedish authorities and the involved experts.
The next step involves towing the Marco Polo to Karlshamn today for the removal of the remaining 300+ tons of heavy fuel oil from the unbreeched tanks and unloading the cargo on board. This operation will also allow both the authorities and TT-Line to conduct a more in-depth investigation into the damage sustained to the vessel. This step significantly reduced the risk of further environmental contamination.
We will keep informing on the further developments through our information channels.
For further information
Press and media:
Contact: pr@ttline.com
Press release: Presse & Public Relations | TT-Line (ttline.com)
Updated information regarding Marco Polo
As of NOV 01, 2023, 12:00 CET
As agreed with the Swedish authorities the recovery operation started at Marco Polo´s current location from 07:00 in the morning. By pressurizing parts of the breached void spaces the vessel was slowly lifted from its position on the seabed and reached a floating condition at 07:45. To prevent an uncontrolled drifting, tugboats secured the Marco Polo during this operation. The ship was then brought to its new location by the same tug boats approximately one nautical mile to the southeast.
The anchorage on the current location was decided together with the great support from the Pilots of the area. The ship dropped its own anchors at 09.20 at the new location.
Today a renewed dive survey will be conducted to assess the full damage of the ship.
Today`s operation was a very important and successful step as it results into a much more secure situation for the vessel - for the crew and experts on board, and to prevent further impact on the environment.
TT-Line is grateful for the support and professional cooperation with the authorities in Sweden and the experts involved. We are also fully aware of the impact the incident has on the environment and the affected communities, as well as of the overwhelming commitment of all voluntary helpers.
We will keep informing on the further developments through our information channels.
For further information
Press and media:
Contact: pr@ttline.com
Press release: Press & Public Relations | TT-Line (ttline.com)
Updated information regarding Marco Polo
As of OCT 31, 2023, 11:30 CET
Due to the movement of the ship into a new position 29th October and the worsening weather conditions to be expected later this week a new salvage plan was prepared and shared with Authorities. Within this new salvage plan the refloating is further prioritized. The refloating operation is now planned for Wednesday, 1st November 2023.
SMIT under supervision and with the support of the Swedish authorities, in coordination and with assistance and full cooperation by TT-Line are currently all available resources to supporting the above plan in order to mitigate the impact of the incident as good as possible and to avoid further contamination.
It is planned to then tow the vessel a predetermined anchorage location approximately 1 nautical mile to the Southeast of the current grounded position and offload the remaining bunker oil from the unbreeched tanks. The bunker tanker “Fram” is standing by for this operation.
We will keep informing on the further developments through our information channels.
For further information
Press and media:
Contact: pr@ttline.com
Press release: Presse & Public Relations | TT-Line (ttline.com)
Updated information regarding Marco Polo
As of OCT 30, 2023, 15:00 CET
On 28 October, the 2nd phase of the incident recovery started, which included pumping out the fuel oil from the breached tank of the vessel Marco Polo, to avoid further oil spills. Due to the worsening weather this operation was later stopped.
We can confirm that due to the further worsening weather conditions, the vessel started moving on Sunday, 12:15 hrs coming to a stop at 14:30. Due to the movement of the vessel the Salvage Master ordered all non-essential personnel to abandon the casualty on Sunday.
The movement of the vessel lead to further fuel oil leakes from the tanks already breached during the incident on 22nd October. The movement of the vessel did not damage the previously unbreeched oil tanks.
As of today, the preparations for the refloating operation are commencing with the highest priority. Due to the altered position of the ship a thorough diving and bathymetric survey is currently being conducted before the vessel can possibly be approached for further unbunkering.
The recovery operation is managed by SMIT under supervision of the Swedish authorities, in coordination and with assistance and full cooperation by TT-Line wherever needed. TT-Line is dedicating all available resources to supporting the authorities. To mitigate the impact of the incident as good as possible, to avoid further contamination and to recover the ship from its current position is our first and foremost priority right now. To fully focus on this, we will keep informing the public on the further developments of the case via our own channels.
We are aware of the impact the incident has caused and we are taking the case very seriously - now and after the completion of the case.
We will keep informing on the further developments through our information channels.
For further information
Press and media:
Contact: pr@ttline.com
Press release: Presse & Public Relations | TT-Line (ttline.com)
Updated information regarding Marco Polo
As of OCT 28, 2023, 16:00 CET
At half past five on Sunday morning Marco Polo run aground during its approach to Karlshamn port. Thanks to the excellent work from and cooperation with the Swedish Authorities all passengers were safely evacuated by 10:15am.
Since the morning of the 23rd of October, a team from SMIT, together with a technical team from TT-Line and the crew have successfully been working on the first phase of stabilizing the ship in order to prevent further damages to the environment. The two tugboats “Thor” and “Max” have been standing by.
Today at noon time the 2nd phase could be started. With the tugboat “Max” assisting the shallow draft bunker vessel “Tresfjord” went alongside the Marco Polo. Using specialized equipment to reach the remaining bunker the operation of pumping out the fuel oil from the breached tank was started today shortly after 2pm. This step is of paramount importance to reduce the danger for the environment.
After finishing the unbunkering operation from the breached and intact tanks the 3rd phase will commence next week. This phase is the refloating and recovery operation.
Image: Bunkervessel Tresfjord alongside Marco Polo
We will keep informing on the further developments through our information channels.
For further information
Press and media:
Contact: pr@ttline.com
Press release: Presse & Public Relations | TT-Line (ttline.com)
Updated information regarding Marco Polo
As of OCT 26, 2023, 11:00 CET
TT-Line´s current focus is on preventing further damages to the environment and coastline. To being able to mobilise the required resources and know how in the shortest possible time the shipowner contracted SMIT to handle the recovery. Furthermore, the shipowner is in close contact with its P&I insurer and international pollution experts which mobilised on site with the goal of screening the extend of the spill and advising with regards to the extend and technical matters for the oil removal. All further investigation is led by the local authorities with full cooperation, support and transparency from TT-Line.
To prevent further pollution, the priority is the stabilization of the vessel. The stabilisation efforts have been successful. However, due to the challenging situation more efforts to stabilize the ship are being conducted. Also, the tugboats “Svitzer Thor” and “Max” were contracted and are standing by in the vicinity of the vessel in order to assist when needed. Once the vessel is stabilized and the weather conditions improves two dedicated lightering crafts shall take over the remaining bunkers on board. The two ships are currently mobilizing to the site and a start of this operation is scheduled for the coming weekend.
Shipowner`s full focus is the avoidance of further contamination of the area and therefore it is mobilising all available sensible resources to reach this target. TT-Line is thankful for the support and cooperation of all relevant stakeholders. We will keep informing on the further developments through our information channels..
For further information
Press and media:
Contact: pr@ttline.com
Press release: Presse & Public Relations | TT-Line (ttline.com)
Updated information regarding Marco Polo
As of OCT 24, 2023, 10:15 CET
At half past five on Sunday morning Marco Polo run aground during its approach to Karlshamn port. Thanks to the excellent work from and cooperation with the Swedish Authorities all passengers were safely evacuated by 10:15am and were then taken care of by a support team from TT-Line in the Port of Karlshamn.
To mitigate the very unfortunate situation in the best possible way the shipowner has contracted Dutch company SMIT, a leading international expert in the field, in order to assist with the recovery.
Since the morning of the 23rd of October, a team from SMIT, together with a technical team from TT-Line, boarded Marco Polo. The most important current priority is to stabilize the ship to prevent further damage. Two additional assistant tugboats will arrive at the scene to secure the vessel within this afternoon.
The 2nd priority is to lighten the ship from the remaining bunker on board as soon as the weather conditions allow. Therefore, two dedicated shallow draft lightering crafts are scheduled to arrive on Thursday and Friday. This step is of paramount importance to reduce the danger for the environment and thereafter to facilitate the recovery of the vessel.
For further information
Press and media:
Contact: pr@ttline.com
Press release: Presse & Public Relations | TT-Line (ttline.com)
Information regarding Marco Polo
Updated as of OCT 22, 2023 13:20CET
TT-Line can confirm that this morning a grounding occurred on ferry Marco Polo on route from Port of Trelleborg in Sweden to Port of Karlshamn in Sweden.
Swedish rescue authorities were informed and have been attending the scene.
Thanks to cooperation with the Swedish rescue authorities all passengers have safely left the vessel. Passengers are now being taken care of by TT-Line`s personnel in Karlshamn providing them with hotel and/or alternative travel options.
Also 8 non-essential crew members mainly from hotel department were transferred ashore.
Swedish authorities, ships command with the remaining 21 crew members and TT-Line`s ashore team with the support of the insurance company are currently assessing the ship`s damage before taking further actions. More information will be available here as soon as possible.
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Contact person: Christian Jahnke
TT-Line GmbH & Co. KG
Zum Hafenplatz 1
23570 Lübeck - Travemünde
E-Mail: pr@ttline.com
About TT-Line
TT-Line offers the closest route network on the direct trades to south Sweden. With nine modern ferries and up to 18 departures daily, TT-Line links the largest German Baltic ports Travemünde and Rostock, and the Polish port Świnoujście as well as the Lithuanian harbor city Klaipėda with the southern Swedish transport hub of Trelleborg. TT-Line is the market leader in freight and individual touristic transport between Germany and Sweden. The ferry connection between these two countries exist since 1962.
Since 2015 all TT-Line ships are operated with the new legal requirements of the IMO (International Maritime Organization) to reduce ship emissions. Three of eight ferries sail with environmentally friendly marine fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1 percent. A flue gas desulfurization plant is installed in the ships Nils Holgersson, Peter Pan, Nils Dacke and Marco Polo. Thus, not only the sulphur emissions are reduced significantly but also the particle content in exhaust gases are reduced. With streamlining hull shapes and fuel-efficient speed management the CO2 footprint will be further improved. The technology and environmental management of TT-Line has already received several awards. Furthermore TT-Line currently has the new Green Ship under construction and will therefore be the first shipping company and pioneer in the southern Baltic Sea to use LNG as a fuel. This enables significant reductions of emission.
