On 1 March 2024, the Motor Vessel "SHOVELER" (GT 19,814 – DWT 30,928), laden with 28,600 tonnes of wheat in bulk, caught fire in the engine room, approx. 55 miles SW of port of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The vessel was en route from Montreal, Canada to Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. Tsavliris towed the vessel to Caracas.
"HELLAS LIBERTY": New president for the Maritime Museum
On 27 February 2024, George A.Tsavliris was elected President of the Board of Directors of the floating Maritime Museum "HELLAS LIBERTY" for the next three years.
"HELLAS LIBERTY" is a Liberty ship which survived World War II. In 2008 she was transferred to Greece and after repairs she was converted into a Maritime Museum.
On 18 February 2024, the Bulk Carrier "RUBYMAR" (GT 19,420 - DWT 32,211), laden with 22,000 tonnes of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer in bulk, was severely damaged by Houthi missiles off the coast of Yemen.Tsavliris prepared to mobilise a tug from Aden, an anti-pollution vessel from Greece, salvage team, divers team, equipment etc.
Sadly, the vessel sank on 2 March as she had been slowly taking on water since the attack.
City University of London Presentation on Shipping
In February, Andreas A. Tsavliris gave his annual lecture at the City University of London (Bayes Business School) to the "Shipping, Trade and Finance" master's degree student. He took the opportunity to emphasise that "shipping needs a strong salvage industry to support every possible operation in every part of the world". He discussed the major challenges of the sector.
On 7 December 2023, the Bulk Carrier "GAZIBEY" (GT 12,192 - DWT 17,786), laden with 9,900 MT Fertilizer (Potassium Chloride Granule), suffered main engine failure and drifted approx. 60 miles off Falmouth, UK. During the incident the vessel was en route from Ust-Luga, Russia to Bayonne, France. Tsavliris despatched the AHTS "ALP STRIKER" (BP 312 - BHP 24,400), arriving at the casualty on 8 December.