This was particularly problematic in the case of the 3,032-teu Rena (built 1990). Keith Manch, chief executive of Maritime New Zealand, admitted that when the Rena ran aground on the Astrolabe reef in October 2011, New Zealand had no assets available to deal with the casualty. The country, although well equipped to deal with oil pollution, had to reach out to the international community for kit to deal with a grounded boxship
Francis Leckey, senior salvage master at Resolve Salvage & Fire, noted that years ago salvage companies kept tugs on station to deal with casualties but the current economic environment makes it hard to keep vessels sitting idle and not generating income.
Swiss Re Corporate Solution’s Peter Townsend suggested a return to that era. He called for the creation of a salvage pool with special-purpose assets that salvors could use when the need for specialised equipment arises. These could be situated at strategic locations along the main routes on which large boxships are deployed.
When questioned as to who would pay for these assets, Townsend offered several suggestions. Coastal states could acquire the equipment and fund them through levies on boxes loaded. Alternatively, he suggested that protection-and-indemnity (P&I) clubs could invest in them at arm’s length.
Salvors were quick to point out that their research-and-development budgets are limited and investment would have to come from the shipping industry.
Despite the reservations expressed at the conference, salvors remained reasonably positive on their ability to tackle a large casualty should the need arise, even if they do not have the solutions on hand right now. They claimed everything is technically possible, it is just a matter of cost.
“Salvors are problem solvers. With enough time and money we can get things done,” said Leckey.
