MV Kaami successfully refloated and towed safely to dry dock

The MV Kaami has successfully been refloated and towed to a dry dock in Loch Kishorn. 

Six weeks ago on March 23, the MV Kaami ran aground in the Minches, between the Isles of Skye and Lewis. Since then a team from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency together with a salvage team from Resolve have worked tirelessly to remove the cargo from the vessel and to complete repairs in preparation for refloating.

Following yesterday's (4 May)  midday low water, salvors successfully refloated MV Kaami on the rising tide and towed the ship from the rocks to safe water. It’s stability and integrity were thoroughly checked before towing to Loch Kishorn could begin.

The MV Kaami was towed by a tug and escorted by three other tugs into Loch Kishorn dry dock. The journey took 14 hours to complete.

The HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft conducted an overflight to monitor the refloating operation and there were no signs of pollution.

The vessel is now docked and salvors are demobilising equipment and vessels.  The dock gate will be shut later in the week and the dock will be pumped dry. The ship will then be recycled.

The Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention Stephan Hennig who has overseen the operation said: “This has been a hugely successful operation and I want to thank all of those whose efforts over the past six weeks have contributed to the safe re-floating of the vessel.

“The operation hasn’t been without challenges, the weather has been against us at times and the restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic have meant we’ve had to adapt the way we work but the determination of everyone involved has meant we have been able to remove this vessel without any long lasting environmental damages.”