Engineering ship Salvage

摘要

The list of vessels which have run aground, not just along the notorious Cape of Storms, but all along the South African coast fills several pages, each with its own story. Some were salvaged while others, posing no threat of pollution to the environment, were left to decay away over the years. Just recently there was a barge carrier stranded on the west coast, then East London had one and lately a vessel ran aground at Salt Rock on the east coast. Salvaging a vessel isn't just a matter of pulling it off the rocks; it's a scientific process where naval architects and engineers carefully calculate the best method to do so with the least damage to the ship and the environment. By definition, marine salvage is the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo, or other property from peril. Salvage encompasses rescue towing, re-floating a sunken or grounded vessel, or patching or repairing a ship. Today the protection of the environment from cargoes such as oil or other contaminants is considered a first priority.