The "Combinatie Berging Tricolor" is consortium consisting of SMIT Salvage B.V., Scaldis Salvage & Marine Contractors N.V., URS Salvage & Marine Contracting N.V. and Multraship Salvage B.V.
Mr. Morten Lund Mathisen of the Norwegian law firm Wikborg, Rein & Co, and Mr. Geert Koffeman of SMIT Salvage B.V., who have spearheaded the contract negotiations, made the following statement: "We are very pleased that we have managed to finalize negotiations to the satisfaction of our respective principals. Now the real work can begin."
Mr Hans Chr. Bangsmoen of Wilh. Wilhelmsen, states: "We are happy that the negotiations have proved effective and that we now have a signed contract. Although there have been challenging legal issues to address in the process, the negotiators have had a practical and pragmatic approach, which we believe has been beneficiary in the circumstances."
The contract is on a the Bimco Wreckstage 99 Form, amended by certain additional clauses and annexes, and calls for remuneration for the wreck removal and disposal services to be paid in installments according to milestones achieved by the contractor, as verified by the owner's designated representative.
The contractor intends to use a specially designed diamond wire cutting system to divide the wreck into sections. Thereafter, each section will be lifted out of the water by the joint effort of sheerleg cranes and placed onto pontoon barges for transport ashore to Zeebrügge, Belgium, where the vehicles will be separated from the wreck and disposed of in a specially designed area in accordance with EU regulations. All operations will be conducted with due care for the environment and safety of shipping. The contractor will have in place an anti-pollution vessel throughout the operation.
The plans and method for the wreck removal and disposal have been presented to the Maritime Prefect for the Channel and North Sea and other representatives for affected authorities in Dunkirk. Admiral Pinon, the Maritime Prefect, states: "The French authorities are satisfied that the owners of Tricolor have taken active steps to comply with the orders for removal of the wreck. The agreed method of work, including the planned measures to ensure safety of shipping and to protect the environment, seems to be well considered. Our hope is now that everything will progress according to plan."
The wreck removal contract is a private and confidential document. Neither party is at liberty to release to the public details concerning remuneration or other commercial aspects.
Tricolor is a 1987 built Norwegian flagged vehicle carrier, which, in the early morning 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. Tricolor sank as a result of the impact of the striking 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.