July 7, 2021
The ADV Ocean Protector, an Auxiliary Navy Ship manned and managed by Teekay Australia, was called upon to assist with offloading cargo and supplies for the local community of Christmas Island.
Seasonal monsoon weather had precluded the cargo ship, MV Borkum, from offloading sorely needed food and supplies to support the local Christmas Island community. The inclement weather conditions had caused local shops and supermarkets to report virtually empty shelves due to the various unsuccessful attempts of the MV Borkum to offload at the wharf.
As the weather conditions abated enough for the MV Borkum to tie up to mooring buoys, she was still moored too far from the wharf for the shore crane to reach. The crew had derived an idea to call upon the Ocean Protector to approach and position herself in close proximity to both the ship and cliff face in order to provide an artificial lee (break) between the incoming waves, swell and wind and the wharves cliff face.
The ADV Ocean Protector used its dynamic position allowing it to move in and maintain near both the wharf and MV Borkum, without having to drop anchor or tie up. The artificial lee provided by Ocean Protector from the sea allowed the barges to safety approach the cliff face and allow for the crane to lift the ships cargo ashore.
Ocean Protector remained in this position throughout the span of three days, allowing for 45 containers full of supplies to be offloaded and for 64 empty containers to be loaded back onto the MV Borkum.
This was another gleaming example of our #TeekaySpirit shining through the work we do everyday. Thank you to Team Ocean Protector and all those involved for their unwavering commitment to assisting those in need, either its at sea or on shore!
