Capsized MV Madamfo salvaged

MV Madamfo, a fishing vessel which capsized at the Tema harbour on February 26 has been salvaged.

The vessel, which belongs to Panofi, a Ghanaian registered company, listed at the Tema port at 1400 hours on that fateful day, only to capsize one and half hours later.

At a press briefing on Tuesday morning at the Tema harbor, the Director General of the Tema Port, Mr. Jacob Adorkor, said the situation that lasted for weeks, was on Monday salvaged by a Ghanaian registered company, Jioe Complex Ghana Limited.

According to him, the Tema Port received offers from numerous international and local organizations to help salvage the capsized vessel, but upon further checks and scrutiny it settled on a Ghanaian registered company.

He explained that most foreign organizations proposed to cut the vessel into pieces within six months but Joie said they will be able to float the vessel whole in weeks.

Mr Adorkor said Joie Company last Thursday was able to float the vessel but because of time constraints, it could only complete the whole process of total floating on Monday.

Mr. Adorkor said the cost involved in the salvaging process was GH400, 000 and that the vessel owners will be asked to pay a potential loss of USD$ 10 000 for the number of days the vessel spent at the berth.

Mr. Alfred Enyaah, Technical Officer, Jioe Complex Ghana Limited, said his outfit used 13 inflated balloons and a crane to salvage the situation.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Paul Ansah, Public Relations Manager, Tema Port, said a Maritime Academy to offer refresher courses on skills and attitude for harbour workers would soon be established.

He said the academy would seek to complement the Regional Maritime University and not to compete with it.