Critical rescue operation begins for 'Ninova' ship stranded for two months in Karasu

The countdown has been completed to rescue the Panama-flagged dry bulk ship named 'Ninova', which has been stranded in shallow waters off the coast of Karasu district in Sakarya for approximately two months. A 15-person expert technical team, meticulously preparing in the region for days, has finalized the operation plan after completing all risk analyses and hydrographic surveys. According to the information obtained, it was decided that the massive rescue operation would commence on Tuesday, 7 July, at 05.00 in the morning. Authorities stated that the operation would be conducted with extreme precision regarding environmental safety and maritime security, ensuring the safest scenario is applied. This process, which the local public has been following with concern for a long time, will enter a new dimension with the intervention that will begin at dawn.

The most critical phase of the operation is the lightering of the cargo located in the shallow area where the ship is stranded at a depth of approximately 4 meters. It is planned to discharge 300 to 400 tons of ammonium nitrate, which corresponds to half of the total cargo in the dry bulk ship's holds. This process will reduce the vessel's pressure on the seabed, allowing it to move freely on the water again. Experts aim to conduct an ultra-sensitive operation to prevent any environmental disaster during this process. Following the successful unloading of the cargo, the second phase will begin, and the likelihood of rescuing the ship will significantly increase.

Special equipment has been dispatched to the region to carry out this massive and risky discharge operation. The vessel named 'Bahri Reis 3', with a cargo capacity of 300 tons, which was brought to Karasu Port over the weekend, will play a central role in the operation. A giant Sennebogen excavator was mounted onto this vessel, specifically chosen for shallow waters, to perform the cargo discharge quickly and safely. The team will execute a highly controlled maneuver to ensure the excavator system does not make contact with the wrong area. This step constitutes one of the most delicate parts of the operation to prevent any potential damage to the ship's hull.

After the cargo discharge operations are successfully completed, the ship will not be immediately removed from its location; it will first undergo a comprehensive technical inspection. A detailed damage assessment will be conducted on the ship's hull, accompanied by expert divers and engineers. If the inspections reveal no additional damage to the hull that could cause water ingress or hinder the operation, Ninova will be refloated. Subsequently, it will be safely towed to a secure area off Karasu and transported beyond the district's borders. This final stage will mean the complete elimination of environmental risks in the region.

The vessel Ninova, which ran aground off the coast of Karasu on 1 May, had been waiting at its exact spot for a full two months and had almost become a permanent fixture of the district. While the prolonged waiting period worried both the local public and environmental organizations, this final decision by the authorities brought relief. As the countdown ends, this highly critical process for regional environmental and maritime security will be attempted to be successfully concluded. The flawless completion of the rescue operation will be considered an important reference point for solving similar crises in the maritime world. All these detailed plans demonstrate immense professional dedication, prioritizing both life and environmental safety.