Moscow-based AMT-Insurance Company (www.amt-insurance.com) (previously Investflot Insurance) has been reported as the insurer of general cargo ship Real (IMO 7130153), which grounded last October. Typhoon Lan loosened Real from her moorings in Fushiki port, Toyama, Honshu, Japan Sea, early on October 23rd. The vessel had been scheduled to depart for Russia with its 19 crew on October 27th. She drifted in the harbour before grounding on the breakwater. No crew member was injured.
Prevention of further fuel leak was given a top priority during the first stage of the salvage and wreck removal operation to avoid claims from the Coast Guard and local fishermen. A fuel leak was sealed, and fuel and oil were siphoned from the wreck.
All works carried out during first stage of salvage/wreck removal operation cost the Insurer some $200,000, with the insurer being directly responsible for preventing pollution and losses cover. The wreck removal was the shipowner’s responsibility, but the shipowner reportedly abandoned the ship. A contract on wreck removal was signed with Nippon Salvage Co Ltd and the insurer paid more than $2m for the wreck removal. After recovering stability and sealing off holes, the ship was taken to a shipyard in Toyama to strengthen her hull for towage. The hull was strengthened with H Beams to make it ready for towing. 1971-built, Togo-flagged, 1,798 gt Real is owned by Semtor Projects SA care of manager East Marine Co Ltd of Vladivostok, Russia.