The call came at 2:00 AM. A bulk carrier anchored east of Singapore had stucked its anchor chain retrieval. The vessel was drifting on a single anchor in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, with morning traffic hours away.

The Challenge

The master needed both anchors functional before continuing voyage. Insurance required loss documentation. Port authorities needed confirmation the severed chain posed no navigation hazard. Our team mobilized within thirty minutes.

Singapore's anchorages present unique recovery difficulties—strong currents, poor visibility, heavy shipping traffic, and complex underwater terrain. Professional operations rely on systematic scanning technology combined with current analysis to predict chain movement patterns.

Recovery Operation

Our underwater camera systems confirmed the chain separation point. Side-scan sonar mapped the search area. Within four hours, we located both major chain sections—one near the original position, another 200 meters downcurrent.

Recovery required specialized rigging to lift sections weighing several tons. We used staged lifting techniques as part of our salvage and recovery capabilities, securing chain sections at multiple points before extraction.

Documentation and Prevention

We provided comprehensive photographic evidence of chain condition, failure point analysis, and recovery procedures for insurance claims and classification requirements. Investigation revealed undetected corrosion caused the failure.

Many failures show warning signs during routine underwater surveys. This vessel's last inspection was eighteen months prior. Recommended intervals for Singapore operations: six to twelve months due to accelerated tropical corrosion.

Results

The recovery completed within twenty-four hours. The vessel departed on schedule after installing spare chain sections. Total delay: less than one day versus potential weeks waiting for specialized salvage mobilization. Emergency recovery cost a fraction of demurrage charges, mobilization fees, or navigation hazard liability.

Having professional recovery available locally transformed a potential crisis into a manageable incident with minimal disruption while maintaining full safety and regulatory compliance.

📞 Contact Oceanus Marine for emergency salvage and recovery services or preventive inspection programs.