Removing a sunken feed barge off the Isle of Skye
In 2022, Marine Masters acted as main contractor for the removal of a sunken fish feed barge in Portree Harbour on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. The barge had sunk during a storm with approximately 400 tonnes of fish feed on board and came to rest at a water depth of around 35 metres.
What initially appeared to be a straightforward salvage operation soon developed into a complex engineering and environmental challenge. The barge had settled deep into the muddy seabed, requiring lifting arrangements to be installed through the vessel’s mooring tubes while working around several metres of clay. At the same time, the fish feed stored inside the barge began to decompose, creating hydrogen sulphide gas and introducing additional safety considerations for everyone involved in the project.
Marine Masters acted as main contractor, performing all engineering in-house and managing the complete salvage operation. During the preparation phase, lift rigging was installed from a locally sourced multicat vessel. This required careful planning and execution, as the rigging first had to be pulled through the clay surrounding the submerged structure before it could be positioned correctly.
To execute the lift, Marine Masters mobilised a 1,800-tonne sheerleg from the Netherlands. Once all preparations had been completed, the crane successfully lifted the 1,000-tonne feed barge from the seabed. As the vessel reached the surface, the project entered its next phase. Contaminated seawater and decaying feed residues were pumped into a tanker for safe disposal, while close coordination with local authorities ensured that environmental and safety requirements were met throughout the operation.
Following the removal of the remaining contents, permission was granted to beach the barge for further dismantling and disposal.
The Portree removal demonstrates the broad scope of modern salvage operations. Success depended not only on heavy lifting capacity, but also on engineering, environmental management, stakeholder coordination and the ability to adapt to changing conditions throughout the project.
As Marine Masters celebrates its 10-year anniversary, the removal of the Portree feed barge remains a strong example of the combination of engineering, execution and ownership that has defined the company since day one.
