KARACHI – A Pakistani Salvage Company Seamax Marine Services successfully rescued an Indian Barge in Distress affected due to Cyclone Shaheen.
Picture shows Harmony tug towing the barge while the Indian tug is alongside the Barge.
An Indian flat top barge A M ATULYA of tonnage 8904.55 tons and 91.50 meters in length loaded with Asphalt (Road Construction Material) was being towed by an Indian tug. Due to Cyclone Shaheen which created rough weather conditions in the sea, the towline from the tug and barge snapped and the barge was left alone in the sea unmanned and could not be located.
Picture of the barge.
The owners Alphard Group from India, directly contacted Seamax Marine Services to rescue their barge and an estimated drifting pattern was established for the search and rescue operation of A M Atulya Barge.
Swift coordination was established with JMICC, MRCC, PMSA, Pakistan Navy, and Coast Guards and with their joint efforts, Seamax rescued and secured the barge with its towline by the tugboat Harmony at 77 Nautical Mile in Pakistani waters and brought to Outer Port Limits (OPL) of Karachi.
The owners of the barge were also notified with the coordinates and an Indian tugboat AM ADWAY came by to take over the tow.
Picture of Seamax tug Harmony of Pakistan which rescued the barge A M Atulya.
After a vigorous effort to transfer the towline in rough weather at OPL, Karachi, Seamax Pearl, a pilot boat with the Seamax diving team was also mobilized at the coordinates and the towline was successfully transferred and connected from the Pakistan tug Harmony to the Indian tug AM ADWAY.
Seamax not only protected their asset diligently that was in distress due to Cyclone Shaheen but also delivered its entire food provision showing professional seafarer attitude from the tugboat Harmony and waved goodbye to the Indian Barge and tugboat which then sailed from OPL, Karachi at 2030 hrs for Mumbai, India after vigorous successful salvage operation for the rescue and handover of a distressed asset within 35 hours, since Harmony tug was engaged.
The executives of Alphard Group from India mentioned below after the successful handover:
“We would like to thank your entire team for the timely support and prompt response in our difficult times and for providing all assistance in locating the barge.
We extend our gratitude towards PMSA, Pakistan Navy, JMICC, and Seamax Team for their remarkable support in locating and reconnecting the barge to our tug.”
Seamax, a local marine service company also rendering as salvage company owned by Arif Shaikh, Usman Imran Farooq and Humayun Shaikh with their entire team, rejoices another achievement in a row waving the Pakistani flag to glory with the people of Pakistan after a successful re-floatation of 98-meter cargo ship Heng Tong 77 last month on the 07th September that was stranded at Clifton beach, Karachi, Pakistan.
