The operations involving the grounded 25,674 GRT container vessel MAERSK NEUCHATEL are progressing, aimed at an actual refloating attempt possibly at the end of this month. The loaded 207 meter long vessel grounded during the second half of July off Tema, Ghana, and SVITZER Salvage was subsequently involved following initial attempts that did not achieve the required result. A SVITZER salvage team including salvage master, naval architect and towmaster, is in charge and the operations to prepare the vessel to be refloated include an on-site-cargo-discharge of over 10% of the cargo volume to lighten the ship. These operations however are hampered at times by swell running at the grounding location. All necessary measurements are further taken to prevent any possible environmental damage by the removal of bunkers to safe tanks higher up in the vessel.