"President Garcia"
refloated from Guernsey coast

The hazardous, rock-strewn coast of Saints Bay in the southern part of the island of Guernsey was a scene of intense and unsusual activity during the month of July, 1967. Three of our tugs, a large salvage team and three chartered coasters assembled there. Their task was to refloat the 10,826 g.r.t. Philippine President Lines cargo vessel President Garcia, which struck the rocks at 12 knots on the night of 13th when en route for Rotterdam with a cargo of copra.
The tug Utrecht was directed to the spot from her salvage station at Land's End and was joined by the Willem Barendsz which was on salvage station in the English Channel at the time. Both arrived on Friday the 14th and offered their services on the basis of Lloyd's Open Form ("no cure, no pay"). The offer was accepted and by the afternoon the tugs had made fast to the vessel. The initial attempt to refloat her failed. Even at high water, she proved to beneaped - she was two feet out of her draft. It was decided to discharge part of the cargo of copra from the forward holds, or to transfer it to the stern part.

Top:July 14th, 1967. The President Garcia hard aground in Saints Bay, Guernsey,
the tugs Utrecht and Willem Barendsz lie at anchor in the bay

   
Top left: The stranded vessel towers above the rocks, right: the twisted stern of the President Garcia

Top and below: The motor boat crosses the gap carrying a line

Both Willem Barendsz and Utrecht has lowered the motor boats to make connection
between the tugs and the President Garcia

On the instructions of the Master, Captain Frederico Guererrez, the entire crew, numbering64, had remained on board, and they joined with islanders and tourists in watching the operations. Tension rose when, at low tide on the morning of the 15th, the deck and side plating in the vicinity of No.2 hold commenced to buckle. Inspection by divers showed that one deeptank and several double bottom tanks had been damaged. Frogmen succeeded in plugging the holes in the double bottom beneath No.2 hold. The sounding pipes could not be used owing to damage or other causes, and so our men had to go down via the forward pipetunnel into the bottom to drill holes in the watertight bulkheads of No.1 hold and No.1 deeptank to ascertain whether water had penetrated the hold. "A unique experience, particularly when the ship is moving about on the rocks," said salvage inspector H. Bijlsma. "But it showed exactly what the underwater damage was."...... (continued next page)

  
Tension rose when, at low tide on the morning of the 15th, the deck and side
plating in the vicinity of No.2 hold commenced to buckle.