Barge MM53Field Surveys & Report

29 January 2006

Steve Lehmann, SSC

Renn Hanson, Situation Unit

Field Surveys• Morning Survey

– USCG

– WQIS (RP science)

– Magnolia Marine Transport (RP)

– NOAA (SSC)

• Evening Survey– USCG (FOSC)

– NOAA (SSC)

Developments• The water level in the river is down another 4+ feet from yesterday

and is predicted to drop as much as 10 more feet in the next couple of days.

• The lower water exposed the starboard side hatches, revealing that two of the hold inspection hatches, #4 & #2, (8 inches in diameter) were open and had released a large portion of their cargo. The other two loading hatches were leaking slowly around the edges.

• It is clear that the oil seen on the water yesterday (and today) is a result of a breach in the heating system and the oil being released is a synthetic used in the heating process. This oil in clear when first installed, but turns a brown color after being heated repeatedly (according to the RP). The total amount of “thermal oil” carried is 4,000 gallons. The RP has installed several lengths of sorbent boom with limited effect due to strong currents.

• The RP retrieved a small volume of tar from shoreline with a mile of the barge on the Indiana side.

Future Activies• A tele-conference with state and federal trustees will

be scheduled for Monday (hopefully) to discuss the situation and possible future actions, including NRDA activities.

• Survey of the barge as the water level will be low enough to reveal the port side hatches.

• Continue planning for tar recovery in relation to salvage. This may include a side-scan sonar (already on scene with the salvage contractors) of the deck side of the barge.

• Arrival of the first of the salvage equipment.

25ft

center line of the barge

Hold: #4 strbHold: #3 strb

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Hold: #4 strbHold: #3 strb

Hold: #4 starboard8” inspection hatch openCargo appears to be released

Assumed Tar Deposits• Given the releases

revealed today, it is hoped that the currents have been reduced enough at the deck of the barge such that the tar deposited in heavy amounts in fornt of the vessel.

• Side-scan may be used to determine this.

• If this is true, recovery will take place prior to salvage.

River Flow

Tar Deposits

Retrieved from shorelineVery solid, sinks

Retrieved from water near shorelineVery solid, floatsAssumption: air trapped in tar, similar volcanic pumice