Historic vessel that capsized in Santos advances to new phase following positive test

Equipe da Marfort foi ao Parque Valongo para teste de reflutuação do histórico navio oceanográfico (Alexsander Ferraz/AT)

The first refloating test of the oceanographic vessel Professor W. Besnard, carried out on Wednesday morning (3), produced initial results considered positive, according to Marfort Serviços Marítimos Ltda, the company responsible for the operation. The vessel listed (heeled over) on March 13 and has remained partially submerged ever since at Valongo Park, in Santos, where it is still moored. The plan is to eventually tow it to a shipyard in Guarujá and subject it to a technical inspection to assess its actual condition.

“The data will be consolidated and analyzed by the engineering and operations teams to determine the next stages of the work. Any removal or towing operation will depend on the completion of the refloating phase, further technical assessments, and structural inspections to verify the actual condition of the hull and the vessel after stabilization”, said the company’s director, Alexandre Salamoni.

Since the beginning of the operation, several stages have already been completed, including underwater inspections, compartment cleaning, sealing work, watertightness testing, and the installation of drainage systems. Wednesday’s operation (3) marked the first integrated activity simultaneously using the floating crane (mounted on a barge positioned near the vessel) together with the drainage and pumping systems planned for the upcoming phases.

“Last Saturday, an operational test was conducted using the floating crane independently in order to assess the vessel’s structural response and the performance of the installed support points. The vessel responded positively, resulting in a change in position and a reduction of the original list”, Alexandre explained.

Tidal conditions continue to be one of the main operational challenges, as the windows of fully favorable conditions for carrying out the maneuvers remain limited, according to the director of Marfort. “The work has been progressing on a daily basis, with activities concentrated mainly during the morning and afternoon periods, depending on the operational conditions observed on site”, he said.