APS advances in the removal of Prof. W. Besnard after Navy approval

The operation to rescue one of the greatest symbols of Brazilian maritime science officially advanced in Port of Santos. O 8th Naval District of the Brazilian Navy approved, last Friday (24), the plan to remove the oceanographic vessel Prof. W. Besnardpresented by the company hired on an emergency basis by Santos Port Authority (APS).

The vessel listed on the last March 13remaining partially submerged next to the pier Valongo Parkwhich mobilized a technical task force involving APS, the Port Authority and a company specializing in maritime rescue.

According to APS, the rescue plan provides for the gradual restoration of buoyancythrough internal drainage of accumulated water, sealing of compartments and other technical refloating actions. Once the ship is in adequate structural condition, it will be towed to a shipyardwhere it will undergo expertise to assess the feasibility of a possible restoration, even if partial.

Services have been running since March 31with diving work, underwater inspection, hull cleaning, crack sealing and continuous monitoring of the structure. The operation has been treated as an absolute priority, mainly because it involves navigation safety, environmental prevention and historical preservation.

The company’s emergency hiring Marfort Maritime Services had an estimated cost of R$8.6 millioncovering technical diving, lifting, pollutant containment, refloating methodology and docking on a shipyard.

Although the vessel currently belongs to the Institute of the Seaafter being donated by University of São Paulo (USP)APS assumed direct responsibility for the removal due to the emergency situation declared by Port Authority.

O Prof. W. Besnard It is considered a landmark of national oceanography. The ship participated in the first Brazilian expedition to Antarctica and carried out dozens of scientific missions, contributing to oceanographic and climate studies of the South Atlantic.

In the port environment, the expectation is that the operation also represents an important step towards the future museum preservation of the vessela project that has been debated for years by local entities linked to the maritime memory of Santos.