Yasa Golden Dardanelles Grounding; GOM, off Galveston, TX

Source report excerpt: “Spot Forecast for grounded vessel of Galveston Feb 21, 2009 0530 CST Sunrise/Sunset: Saturday 2/14 Sunrise : 0653 CST Sunset : 1813 CST Sunday 2/15 Sunrise : 0652 CST Sunset : 1814 CST Forecast: Saturday, Feb 21st Winds from the SE at 10 knots or less expected all day. Seas will be primarily swells at 4 feet with 6 sec period. Saturday night At about 1800 a cold front passage is expected. This will result in the winds becoming 15 - 25 knots from the NW tonight. Seas will become 5 - 6 feet and choppy. Sunday Winds will be primarily from the N at 15 knots Seas will be 3 - 4 feet Sunday night Winds becoming NE at 15 knots Seas will be be 3 - 4 feet Monday Winds will be NE in the morning at 10 […]”

Source report excerpt: “Shortly after midnight, early on the morning of 21 February 2009, USCG Marine Safety Unit Galveston Reported the Tanker Ship T/V YASA GOLDEN DARDANELLES, carrying 620,000 bbls of Low Sulfur Fuel Oil, was hard aground off Galveston Island. The reported position was 29° 5’ 12.84” N Lat. 094° 15’ 3.96” W Long. This position places the vessel in the Gulf of Mexico roughly 30 miles SE of Galveston Island and the entrance to Galveston Bay. The USCG has requested a trajectory analysis and RAR. It should be stated that the USCG initially notified NOAA after midnight, but the barge ground around noon the previous day, 20 February. The USCG was not notified until some 10 to 12 hrs after the […]”

Source report excerpt: “http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-msu-galveston-responds-to-grounded-tank-ship/2009/02/21/ GALVESTON, Texas — Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Galveston is responding to the grounding of an 800-foot tank ship 22 miles off the coast of Galveston, which occurred Friday, Feb. 20, 2009. The tank ship Yasa Golden Dardanelles, ran aground on the north side of the Galveston safety fairway, which leads to the Houston Ship Channel. The tank ship is not discharging oil nor is it impeding other vessel traffic. The Yasa Golden Dardanelles reports having approximately 620,000 barrels of fuel oil on board. Coast Guard personnel conducted a preliminary investigation of the grounding late Friday night. […]”

Source report excerpt: “The ship is still aground and riding well in its current state. The salvor is on the ship with their naval architect. They initially decided that it is not necessary to ballast the ship down at this point, so there is no ballasting plan in motion at this time. Tugs are still attached at both quarters w/ light strain. There was little success during the last refloat attempt. The ship's bow swung 4-6 degrees and moved south 60-80 feet. The lightering option is now moving forward at this time. A lightering ship has been identified and is staging at present. The USCG reports that the intention is to commence lightering operations Monday morning at 0800 CST.”

Source report excerpt: “USCG MSU Galveston reports that the lightering ops were complete as of 1912 hrs; 83,834.37BBL of fuel oil were transferred (@60F). The hose/lines are being disconnected now and the tugs will assist the SPT CRUSADER break away from the T/V. Once the CRUSADER is clear, the tugs will again tie off to the T/V off the quarters at which point the de-ballasting operation will commence. Estimate de-ballasting operation to take 4-6 hours. T/V will transit to anchorage until u/w dive survey and class attestation is completed.”

Source report excerpt: “The USCG reported that the grounded tank ship Yasa Golden Dardanelles was successfully refloated at 1208 a.m. this morning (24 Feb.). The ship, an 800-foot tanker with 26 crewmembers, was carrying 621,000 barrels of home heating oil when it ran aground off the coast of Galveston on Friday, February 21. The tank ship did not discharge oil nor did salvage operations impede other vessel traffic. A Unified Command consisting of the Coast Guard, the ship's owner, Texas General Land Office, United States Mineral Management Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Titan Salvage, O'Brien's Response Management and the Marine Spill Response Corporation has worked around-the-clock over […]”