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Unfavourable weather conditions have necessitated a temporary postponement to the wreck removal operations in the English Channel. As soon as the weather improves the operation will continue.

As planned the operation was scheduled to commence this week after the completion of the preparatory work. Eight messenger wires have been installed underneath the wreckage of the TRICOLOR. The wires will be used to pull the special cutting wire into position. The cutting wire will be operated from the platforms Vagant and Buzzard.

The TRICOLOR will be cut into nine sections which will be lifted onto the semi-submersible barges. The sections will be transported to Zeebrugge where the cargo will be taken out of the wreckage. On specially prepared sites any materials which may have a detrimental environmental impact will be removed and the cargo will eventually be dismantled.

All operations will be conducted with due care for the environment and safety of passing vessels in this important shipping lane. The CBT will station an anti-pollution vessel in the vicinity of the TRICOLOR throughout the operation.

The TRICOLOR is a 1987 built Norwegian flagged vehicle carrier, which, in the early hours of 14 December 2002, was struck by KARIBA, a 1982 built Bahamian flagged container ship, in the French Exclusive Economic Zone some 20 miles north of the French coast in the English Channel. The TRICOLOR sank as a result of the impact of the collision and was eventually declared a total loss. In December 2002, French authorities ordered the wreck to be removed, as it was perceived to represent a danger to shipping and the environment.

For more information please contact:

Combinatie Berging Tricolor
Lars Walder
Public Relations Manager CBT
Tel: +31 (0) 10 454 92 74
Mobile: +31 (0) 6 53 43 27 65
Mail: l.walder@smit.com