in this issue - naval sea systems command · became more urgent, bomb shelters filled up more...

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Hoo-Yah Deep Sea! Our U.S. Navydiving and salvage forces recently

responded to calls from around the globeto exercise nearly every skill set in ourinventory…simultaneously.

It started in late 2002 with themarshalling of forces into areas sur-rounding the Iraqi theater of operationsas the prelude to Operation Iraqi Freedom.Then in January 2003, a well-planneddeployment to the remote atoll Ulithi byUSS SALVOR (ARS 52), MDSU ONE,and SUPSALV commenced to reclaimnearly two million gallons of fuel oilfrom the sunken WWII Fleet Oiler USSMISSISSINEWA (AO 59). This complexoperation in 135 feet of water executedeven better than planned, and saved theUlithi population from the possiblecatastrophic release of MISSISSINEWA’sbunkers, which could have devastated thefragile environmental balance of the entireatoll.

Nearly concurrently, a nationaldisaster occurred. On 1 February 2003,Space Shuttle COLUMBIA disintegratedupon re-entry, killing all seven astronautsand leaving a 240 nautical mile long by 10nautical mile wide debris field acrossTexas. One week later NASA askedSUPSALV to provide operational commandand control of the underwater search andrecovery phase, and asked for U.S. Navydiving teams as well. MDSU TWOprovided one active duty detachment andreservists from four of their reservedetachments to augment the multi-agencydive teams which were already on-scene.The search environment was a nearly-impossible-to-penetrate reservoir filledwith both standing and fallen trees fromthe Sabine National Forest. Nine dive

teams (including four Navy teams)conducted over 3100 dives in the reservoirafter a NAVSEA 00C search teamcoordinated an underwater electronicsurvey of over 20 square nautical miles offlooded forest, securing operations on 18April 2003.

A n d t h e n w a r b e g a n . WithMISSISSINEWA hot tap operationsunderway in the Pacific, and a majorunderwater search and recovery operationfor COLUMBIA underway in East Texas, acombined Task Group of MDSU, EOD,Underwater Construction Teams, USCGStrike Team and SUPSALV repre-sentatives and contractors were in andaround Iraq conducting operations indirect support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.Elements of Task Group 56 (commandedby COMEODGRU ONE) participated in awide range of clearance, diving andsalvage including aircraft search andrecovery, and harbor-clearance operationsin Umm Qasr using both conventional andexpeditionary tactics.

The flexibility and agility of the USNdiving, salvage, EOD, SEAL, and UCTforces during these vastly differentoperations conducted simultaneouslywhile thousands of miles apart, istestimony to the strength and dedicationof our diving Navy…and the foundationof our diving Navy is our Navy Divers.Keep up the great performance, and neverstop looking for opportunities to conductrealistic training and improve even furtheron our operational capabilities.

Captain Jim WilkinsDirector of Ocean EngineeringSupervisor of Salvage and Diving

In This IssueSUPSALV Sends ........................................... 2Missles Inbound! Ok Red? ............................. 3MDSU ONE Det 3 in Iraq ................................. 4Space Shuttle COLUMBIAWater Recovery Operations ......................... 7

USS MISSISSINEWAOil Removal Operations ............................... 10USS MISSISSINEWA Diving Operations ...... 14Misery Loves Company ............................... 16Bits and Pieces ............................................ 17

Command in the Spotlight ............................ 18The Old Master ............................................ 19Jake’s Corner ............................................... 19From the Supervisor of Diving .................... 20

FACEPLATE is published by the Supervisor of

Salvage and Diving to make the latest and most

informative news available to the Navy diving and

salvage community. Discussions or illustrations of

commercial products do not imply endorsement by

the Supervisor of Salvage and Diving or the U.S.

Navy.

Articles, letters, queries and comments should be

directed to the Commander, Naval Sea Systems

Command, NAVSEA 00C, 1333 Isaac Hull Ave.

SE Stop 1070, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376-

1070. (Attn: FACEPLATE). Visit our website at

http://www.supsalv.org. To view an electronic

version of Faceplate in PDF format go to our website

and click on the word “Faceplate” located in the left

hand column. This link will direct you to our list of

Faceplate issues.

Captain Jim Wilkins, USN

Director of Ocean Engineering

Supervisor of Salvage and Diving

NAVSEA 00C

[email protected]

Captain Chris Murray, USN

Supervisor of Diving

[email protected]

BMCM (MDV) Steve Smith, USN

BMCM(SW/MDV) Fred K. Orns, USN

Fleet Liaison Editors

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Managing Editors

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Air raid sirens screamed as nearby Pa-triot batteries launched at incoming

Iraqi Al Samut missiles. Unsure of the mis-siles’ intended target, Navy Divers fromMOBILE DIVING AND SALVAGE UNITTWO DET DELTA donned gas masks andtook cover under gear laden trucks. Localport stevedores wrapped scarves aroundtheir faces and frantically searched forcover. After the missiles were interceptedor had fallen harmlessly into the Kuwaitdesert, the reassuring “All Clear” signalwas broadcast and both Divers and steve-dores went back to loading diving and sal-vage gear aboard the leased GAC 65, a 275ft. by 75 ft. flat barge. Tasked with recover-ing two British Sea King helicopterscrashed in the Northern Arabian Gulf inapproximately 80 fsw, MDSU TWO Diverssomberly loaded diving and salvage sys-tems, realizing that along with the aircraftwreckage the aircrew must be recoveredand returned to their nation for honorsand burial.

Loading out for a salvage job is al-ways a challenging adventure, but thestakes grow in time of war. Force protec-tion issues must be considered, coopera-tion with coalition forces and languagebarriers all come together to present issuesthat must be resolved. Fortunately, plan-

(MISSILES IN BOUND! continued on page 6)

ners from FIFTH FLEET, COMEODGRUONE, COMEODGRU TWO, MDSU ONEand TWO, and SUPSALV had positioneda considerable salvage force. Many issueswere resolved automatically by proceduresput in place before the war started.Prepositioned salvage forces, includingMDSU detachments, USS GRAPPLE(ARS 53), and British civilian Diversformed the core salvage and expeditionarysalvage forces during hostilities. NAVSEAcontacted local contractors to supplycranes, tractor-trailers, barges, and tugs. Adiving and salvage Task Group, com-manded by CDR William (Bill) RobertsonUSN, directed the deployment of salvageforces throughout the theatre. An earlymorning call from him put into motion afour-truck convoy from Camp Patriot, Ku-wait Naval Base enroute to Port Shaiwbaon the Northeast coast of Kuwait. Aboardthe heavily armed tactical convoy werejust eight U.S. Navy Divers and a civiliancontractor.

Traveling the roadways in NorthernKuwait required defensive postures notnormally encountered by U.S. NavyDivers. The convoy must proceed tacti-cally. Communication, checkpoints, en-counters with the enemy all must be in-cluded in planning a tactical convoy. For-tunately the coalition forces were doing agreat job sweeping up any enemy so theconvoy proceeded without incident. Only

upon arrival at the port did Divers comeunder the threat of enemy action as theelusive Iraqi mobile missile launcherscrudely aimed their projectiles toward coa-lition forces positioned in Kuwait.

While Divers loaded gear aboard theGAC 65 barge, Master Diver JimMariano, already on scene aboard theUSNS CATAWBA (TATF 168), foughtheavy seas and strong currents in search ofthe aircraft and crew. Joining him in hisefforts were eight Divers from MDSUTWO Detachment DELTA, the Britishminesweeper HMS GRIMSBY and civilianDivers from British Royal Auxiliary Forces.Two days later, the remaining DET DELTADivers aboard the GAC 65 barge arrived atthe salvage site. The barge equipped witha 20-ton crane and MDSU TWO’s LightWeight Dive System focused on recover-ing both the crew and the twisted wreck-age from the murky waters of the PersianGulf.

Lightweight expeditionary salvagerequires salvors to sacrifice some of thestandard dive station luxuries. The onsitechamber could not be physically posi-tioned to support surface decompression.Lack of a stage required Divers to com-plete lengthy decompression stops, hang-ing from their umbilicals while wrappedaround the descent line. The surprisinglycool waters added to the discomfort andfrustration because the portable hot waterheater had been removed from the load listprior to deployment to save weight andspace on the fully loaded C5 aircraft.Lacking a mooring system, the GAC 65barge was positioned between three tugs.The tugs attached towlines to three posi-tions fanned around the barge and droppedtheir anchors 120 degrees apart. Warpingthe barge through the debris field requiredpaying in or out on towlines and some-times taking up chain on the tugs’ anchors.The detachment’s OIC and On SceneCommander (OSC) monitored tides, winds

HTC (DV) Brad Fleming dons a MK 12outergarmet for protection from jagged metalwreckage as GMI (DV) David Jones tendsand Master Diver Jim Mariano briefs theside.

The GAC 65 salvage barge lies mooredbetween the USNS CATAWBA (foreground),LUTHER, and NINA (not shown).

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(MDSU ONE in IRAQ continued on page 5)

By: CWO2 Eric MacDonald

On 24 February 2003, MDSU ONE DET3 deployed to Kuwait in support of

Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Fifteenpersonnel and equipment flew in a USAFC-17 from Hickam AFB, Hawaii to KuwaitInternational Airport. Equipment was se-lected to support DET 3 in its anticipatedoperational environment, enable the suc-cess of operations, and enable rapid intra-theater movement. In accordance withStandard Operating Procedures (SOP), theMK III system and all support equipmentwere loaded in ISU-60 and ISU-90 shippingcontainers. Additionally, DET 3 deployedwith three LSSV/CUCV-III tactical vehicles,an Air System Rack Assembly, TRCS, twodive boats, individual infantry equipment,and detachment field gear.

Upon arrival in Kuwait, DET 3offloaded their equipment and conducted atactical convoy to Camp Patriot, ‘tent city.’Each day the team attended briefings, op-erationally tested equipment, conductedunit level training, and participated inSCUD missile attack drills. The simulatedattacks occurred at all hours of the nightwith the announcement, “ALL KNB -LIGHTNING, LIGHTNING, LIGHTNING”over the camp PA system. In response tothis alarm, all hands donned their gasmasks, double-timed to their assignedbomb shelters (20-foot long CONNEXshipping containers buried 6 feet in thesand) and donned full Mission OrientedProtective Posture (MOPP) gear.

Within two days of MDSU ONE DET3’s arrival in Kuwait, they were tasked withtheir first mission of Operation ENDUR-ING FREEDOM. A coalition ship wasdamaged when it struck a shoal in the Ara-bian Gulf. After EODMU TWO Diversconducted an initial inspection inSCUBA and provided digital imagery,COMFIFTHFLT ordered a more detailedinvestigation to support a decision regard-ing the ship’s final disposition. DET 3 andLCDR Matthew Long, COMFIFTHFLT En-

gineering Duty Officer,conducted the detailedinspection and providedthe data and recommen-dations to higher author-ity.

Next, MDSU ONEDET 3 was joined by aseven-man element fromMDSU TWO. Together,the two teams completeda three-day ship hus-bandry mission on theHSV-X1 JOINT VEN-TURE, an experimentalhigh-speed vessel operat-ing in support of NavalSpecial Warfare. Divers removed two5,000 lbs T-foil fin stabilizers from theship’s twin aluminum hulls and replacedthem with 500 lbs clamshell hull fairingsthat housed the stabilizers, decreasing theships draft and enabling HSV-X1 to oper-ate in the shallow and poorly charted wa-ters of Khawr Abd Allah to more readilysupport Naval Special Warfare missions.

After weeks of drills, briefings,wearing MOPP gear and waiting,Operation IRAQI FREEDOM began. On22 March 2003, coalition ground forcescrossed into Iraq. SCUD drills at CampPatriot were replaced by Iraqi missileattacks. T h e a l a r m “ A L L K N B -LIGHTINING, LIGHTNING, LIGHTNING”became more urgent, bomb shelters filledup more quickly, no one complained aboutthe heat. The detachment donned theirMOPP gear in half the time it took duringthe drills. Fortunately for Camp Patriot, allmissiles were shot down by Patriot Mis-sile Batteries or landed harmlessly in thedesert or sea. Spending hours with ship-mates huddled in bomb shelters while realmissiles were inbound significantly in-creased DET 3’s respect for CBR defense,MOPP gear, first-aid, and buddy-aidtraining.

When Marines from the 15th MarineExpeditionary Unit quickly secured UmmQasr, Iraq’s southern-most port, the Com-mander-in-Chief announced that humani-tarian aid would be delivered within days.Although no major ships were scuttled atUmm Qasr, six Iraqi Mine Layers, PB 40s,were fouling the quay in the southern-most portion of the port and had to becleared. Naval Special Operations TaskForce (CTF 56) ordered MDSU ONE DET 3to report to Umm Qasr, Iraq.

MDSU ONE DET 3, with UnderwaterConstruction Team ONE (UCT ONE) andNaval Coastal Warfare (NCW), plannedand conducted a tactical convoy fromKNB to Umm Qasr through the Iraqi/Ku-wait De-Militarized Zone (DMZ). The con-voy crossed the DMZ and entered Iraqjust after sunset 26 March. The destructionleft in the wake of the USMC advance wassurreal. In the moonlight, innocent treescast ominous shadows, routine soundsbecame threatening, the landscape was lit-tered with demolished enemy fighting po-sitions - perfect hiding places for enemysnipers. The focus of every member ofDET 3 was at a new peak. They main-tained scrutiny over their assigned fieldsof fire, mentally reviewed their rules of en-

QM1 Coy Everage posting watch during RECON of Az Zubayrriver.

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(MDSU ONE in IRAQ continued from page 4)

gagement, and continually checked thestatus of their weapons and ammunition.The expeditionary warfare training con-ducted at Pearl Harbor earned heartfelt ap-preciation.

PB and subsequently remove the mines,CTF 56 ordered the removal of the ob-stacles to enable access to EOD Divers.After HMC (DSW/FMF) John Richardson,ENC (DSW/SW) John Sullivan, QM1(DSW) Coy Everage, and GM2 (DV)Matthew Sabin removed the frame fromthe PB 40, Royal Australian Navy EODDivers from Clearance Diving TeamTHREE raised, towed, and beached themines. With the mines removed, the harborclearance team used chain to make fast a30 ft. workboat and two 2,000 lbsYokohama fenders above the craft, andusing the MTVR, pulled the PB ashore

(MDSU ONE in IRAQ continued on page 6)

Master was forced to beach the MK-5SOC on the A1 Faaw peninsula to save itfrom sinking. MMC Perkins and a threeman repair team immediately deployed upthe river to render assistance. Two daysand three nights were spent repairing thedamage while constantly pumping thecraft to prevent it from sinking at high tide.The damage was so extensive thatpatches, plugs and epoxy could only stop80% of the flooding. Repairs were madewith makeshift patches and finished offwith concrete poured in the bilge enablingthe MK-5 to transit back to Kuwait for re-pairs. During repairs the Divers aug-mented the MK-5’s crew in maintainingsecurity by standing watch and manning

CBR Gear.

MM1 William Sinrich transfering a lineduring Patrol Boat recovery.

MM1 William Sinrich transfering a lineduring Patrol Boat recovery.

Upon arrival, DET 3 was tasked withclearing the port of all six mine layers (PB40s), two of which were sunken. The teamconvoyed from the CTF 56 Command Postto the quay at the Old Port daily. Hearingsporadic small arms fire and operating inthe immediate vicinity of the Iraqi CoastGuard Station, the team was acutely awareof the high threat from Fedayeen Sadaamand other paramilitary forces. To bolstersecurity during convoy and harbor clear-ance operations and to enable the pro-gression of work, 33 personnel fromMDSU ONE DET 3, UCT ONE and CTF 56EOD were incorporated into the harborclearance team. Daily the team clearedbuildings that could be used by snipers.With security in place, primary and sec-ondary tactical communications estab-lished, and all Task Force operationsdeconflicted, the team commenced clear-ance work. First they conducted battledamage repair and grounded the four PB40s that were still floating. The team thenremoved and demilitarized the mine de-ployment racks utilizing OXY-ARC cuttingtechniques. Next, Divers scrounged materi-als at the port, created and rigged a towingbridle to the first sunken PB 40 and pulledthe boat 80 feet across the bottom with aMTVR (6-wheel tactical vehicle) to agrounding site at high tide.

The second sunken PB recovery wasnot as simple. It was sunk in the channelwith four LUGM-145 sea mines onboard.MMC (MDV) Tom Perkins and MM1 (SS/DV) William Sinrich conducted the initialreconnaissance of the PB 40 and confirmedthe mines were still on board, not secure,and probably damaged. The mines signifi-cantly complicated the recovery effort;blowing them in place would have dam-aged the pier facility being cleared. River-ine and tidal currents combined couldreach six knots, visibility was near zero,and a steel pipe frame on the PB pre-vented the safe removal of the mines in thewater. After several attempts to beach the

the MK-5’s crew-served weapon system.Throughout Operation IRAQI FREE-

DOM, DET 3 Divers assisted EOD teamleaders during their missions. The Diversdestroyed fighting positions and weap-ons caches and helped dispose of tons ofordnance, they jumped at the chance tooperate in the field with EOD. Conversely,the EOD technicians enthusiasticallysupported harbor clearance teams byproviding security, demolitions expertise,and by helping sling chain and wire rope.The interoperability between the FleetDivers and EOD technicians throughoutOperation IRAQI FREEDOM wasessential to mission success.

during high tide.During the PB recovery operation a

MK-5 Special Operations Craft (MK-5SOC), operating in the Khawr Az Zubayr,struck a submerged wreck that ripped a15-inch tear in the aluminum hull and par-tially separated the transom from the keel.The damage was so severe that the Craft

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plotted the position of each ship using ahand-held GPS PLGR. The team deter-mined that 16 derelict vessels and one sub-merged wreck blocked the channel. Addi-tionally, 30 vessels needed to be removedfrom the Az Zubayr piers.

During the reconnaissance, the teamdiscovered a new construction, a 90-footIraqi Patrol Boat (PB 90) taking on waterand sinking pierside at Az Zubayr. To pre-vent the PB 90 from sinking and becominga difficult harbor clearance project, EN1(DSW) Gregory Lee led a four-man repairteam that remained overnight in Az Zubayrto de-water and repair the craft.

Upon completion of the reconnais-sance and surveillance mission, the enor-mity of the required clearance effort wasclear. To complete the mission, two sal-vage tugs, a large quantity of wire rope,two towing hawsers and at least threeweeks of solid operating time was needed.Fortunately, during the return trip to UmmQasr, the team discovered a 60-foot push-er boat adrift in the river. Necessary repairswere made and we christened her “ARS60”, positioned coalition identificationpanels and got underway for Az Zubayr to

start clearing smaller vessels and bargesfrom the pier to make room for the largerships from the channel.

After weeks of backbreaking workunder the threat of enemy engagement,the mission was completed successfullyutilizing multiple salvage and towingassets including the US Army and acommandeered Iraqi tug. Twenty-fivehundred feet of pier space and the KhawrAz Zubayr were free of obstruction andopen for coalition shipping.

MDSU ONE DET 3 unceremoniouslyrestowed its gear and convoyed back toCamp Patriot, Kuwait. The mood of theteam on the convoy departing Iraq wasconsiderably different from the moodduring the infiltration. Fear and anxietywere replaced with a well-deservedconfidence in the capability of thedetachment. Shortly after reconstituting inKuwait, DET 3 redeployed to Hawaii. TheDetachment, their shipmates, theirCommanding Officer, and their familiesbreathed a collective sigh of relief withtheir journey safely completed.

Eric MacDonald is the Officer inCharge, MDSU ONE DET THREE.

(MDSU ONE in IRAQ continued from page 5)

With the Port of Umm Qasr clearedand humanitarian aid successfully deliv-ered by R FA S I R GALAHA D, COM-FIFTHFLT ordered CTF 56 to clear thePort of Az Zubayr and the six-mile water-way between Umm Qasr and Az Zubayr,the Khawr Az Zubayr. Over 50 ships,barges and craft were stranded or an-chored along the Khawr Az Zubayr, andanother 60 derelict vessels were aban-doned pierside in the port of Az Zubayr.ENC Sullivan and MDV Perkins surveyedthe damaged ships while QM1 Everage

(MISSILES IN BOUND! continued from page 3)

and positions and directed the movementof the barge as Divers methodically sweptthe debris field. As Master Diver Marianoreported the recovery of wreckage andcrewmembers, the OSC marked off the re-coveries on a sonar scan provided by theminesweeper HMS GRIMSBY.

On the bottom, Divers fought cur-rents over one knot and zero visibility forover an hour per dive in a debris field 300by 300 yards wide. By using a commer-cially available handheld GPS, the sonarscan of HMS GRIMSBY, and providedwith coordinates of the targets, supervisorswere able to direct their compass-equipped Divers directly to wreckage de-spite the low visibility. Long wire ropeslings were manufactured on site and usedto wrap around larger pieces of wreckagefor recovery. A salvage basket was usedto recover smaller items. Accident investi-gators from the Royal Navy scoured everyinch of the wreckage as it came aboard todetermine the cause of the collision thatdoomed the aircraft. British warships sent

crews over to collect the fallenaviators. Later the MDSU TWODivers watched the CNN cover-age of the somber ceremony atHeathrow as the fallen airmenwere returned to their loved ones.

Many of the challenges fac-ing Divers during the recovery ofthis aircraft and crew were notcovered in First and Second ClassDive School or exercised duringMaster Diver Evaluations. Salvorsmanned crew-served weapons,communicated on secure circuits,and worked/slept in CBR gear.MDSU ONE Divers, conductingharbor clearance operations inIraq, faced even tougher expeditionary op-erations. Eating, drinking, sleeping, andproviding self-security consumed re-sources usually not required for peacetimediving operations. Wartime is not the timefor OJT. Our Diving Navy must be able torespond to a myriad of missions. Almostall involve the safe conduct of operations

CWO2 Rick Cavey is currently Officer inCharge, MDSU TWO DET DELTA.

below the waterline, but some include thesecurity and survival of our Sailors abovesea level. Let’s ensure we train for thesemissions as well!

MDV Eric Frank, HT1 (DV) John Coffelt, and crew of theUSS GRAPPLE gage the clearance between ship andbarge prior to offloading the US Harrier jet theyrecovered during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

EN1 Gregory Lee takes a break fromtowing ships while AMCM helicoptersearches for mines.

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By: CWO2 Roger Riendeau

The last transmission from the SpaceShuttle COLUMBIA occurred on 01

February 2003 at approximately 8:59 AMEST as she was passing over Texas at analtitude of over 39 miles. Moments laterAmerica would lose seven of its finest As-tronauts. The debris trail was over 220miles long, starting in the Dallas-FortWorth area and ending in western Louisi-ana. Immediately, NASA began trackingand recording radar images, while local au-thorities started receiving reports of fallingdebris. Officials began collecting, loggingand plotting the debris positions. It waspossible that several high interest itemsfrom the left side of the shuttle, data re-corders, cameras, and control systems mayhave fallen into any of the numerousponds and lakes which are scatteredacross East Texas. The 185,000 acre ToledoBend Reservoir was prime search area dueto the numerous reports from local fisher-man. However, the morning was extremelyfoggy and all reports with any credibilitywere from fishermen involved in a bassfishing tournament and were from hearingdebris hit the water rather than seeing it.

In the summer of 1968 the communityof Sabine County, TX stared in awe as rainpoured into the local forest and country-side. A dam across the Sabine River hadrecently been completed and plans toclear cut trees and remove all the man-

made objects from the ToledoBend Reservoir as it filledwas set to begin. However,two back-to-back 100-yearstorms rolled through andfilled the 60 mile long reser-voir in less than six months;leaving houses, cars, treesand even graves, under asmuch as 105 feet of water.No one at that time couldever imagine the tremendousobstacles that those itemswould turn out to be almost35 years later.

Dive teams from the FBI, EPA, andthe Texas Department of Public Safety(DPS), began diving sites based upon“ear” and eye witness accounts. TheseDivers quickly discovered the difficultiesof searching in an underwater forest. TheEPA brought the first side scan sonar as-set which also had difficulty operating inthe heavily forested lake. One of the sidescan sonars was dedicated to the ear andeyewitness reports while the second wasused to start a gross survey under the

center of the flight path. As reportscame back from the dive and sidescan teams, NASA soon realizedthey would need expert help to orga-nize, prosecute, and manage the ex-tensive underwater search effortjust getting started. On February 8th, CAPT JimWilkins (SUPSALV) informedNASA the Navy was ready toprovide a formal assessment of thesearch environment. The Navyassessment team arrived at ToledoBend Reservoir the next day to meet

with Mr. Scott Harris (EPA) and AstronautSteve Bowen (NASA). The teamconducted an aerial overview of thebodies of water where debris wassuspected. After CAPT Wilkins briefedNASA and FEMA officials on SUPSALV

capabilities, it was obvious they could useour expertise. FEMA officially requestedSUPSALV assistance.

NAVSEA 00C and MDSU TWO weretasked by the CNO on February 14 to sup-port the Debris Recovery Operation withthe intent of assuming command of the un-derwater search effort. It would prove tobe an extremely difficult environment forsearching and diving. As SUPSALV tookover command and control, it became ap-parent that many hurdles needed to beovercome before an effective search couldbegin. First, was to unify the Global Posi-tioning Systems (GPS) used by the diveand scan teams. The second and most dif-ficult hurdle was to identify and acquire asmany different search assets as possibleto provide the best images of the lake’sbottom. Phoenix International brought inthe following search assets with opera-tors: five Marine Sonic side scan sonarswith 5 degree down angle transducers, onecustom Marine Sonic side scan sonar withthe transducers turned down at 10 de-grees, one Klein 3000 side scan sonar sys-tem, one Reason SeaBat 8125 multibeamsystem, and one Reason SeaBat 8101multibeam system. Additionally, two un-manned Remote Environmental Monitor-ing Units (REMUS), which have side scansonar capability, were brought from MDSU

Navy 1 Dive Team.

(COLUMBIA continued on page 8)

Trees breaking the surface of Toledo Bend Reservoir.

Space Shuttle ColumbiaWater Recovery OperationsWater Recovery Operations

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(COLUMBIA continued from page 7)

TWO. The REMUS is an untethered unit,unlike conventional side scans, and couldrun the lake bottom without fear of en-tanglement. With all these assets, dataanalysts identified targets as they re-viewed side scan imagery. Anothermethod of target location was from earwitness accounts. On the morning of theincident the reservoir was covered with athick layer of fog and had no less than 500fishing boats participating in a bass tour-nament. Fishermen and land owners cameto authorities for weeks reporting theyheard pieces hitting the water or flyingoverhead but saw very little due to thefog. The eyewitness reports, nicknamed“X-files”, were scrutinized and althoughthe reports were credible, in many casesthey did not provide specific or accurateenough information to dive on.

Although the average depth was rela-tively shallow, the dense tree coverageposed a difficult problem for the searchboats. Surface towed side scan sonars pro-duce their best quality results when oper-ated at depth of 10% of the selected rangescale off the bottom. Conditions dictatedthat the sonars had to be directly attachedto the boat or towed as little as two feetbelow the surface. This provided rela-tively poor quality images and only largepieces of debris could be identified. Tow-

ing was not the only prob-lem. The boats themselvescould not run the requiredstraight navigation linesdue to the dense tree cover-age. The REMUS also hadits drawbacks. Designed foropen ocean where depthchanges occur gradually, itwould often run into trees,stumps, and even the riverbed wall, providing poordata and occasionally re-quiring Divers to “FreeREMUS.” The MDSU TWO diveteams included Reserve Detachments fromCleveland (409), Newport (101), and Jack-sonville (608). The Navy dive teams beganarriving on 13 February with SCUBAequipment, Lightweight Diving Systems(LWDS), a Transportable RecompressionChamber System (TRCS) and lightweightsalvage equipment. The Divers receivedan initial in-brief from NASA which cov-ered the numerous hazardous materials andpyrotechnics on-board the shuttle at thetime of the incident. The search area cen-tered on an area one nautical mile on eitherside of the Columbia flight path. A second-ary search area extended the originalsearch area out an additional one nautical

mile on either side of the flight path. Thisproduced a water search area of 14.69square nautical miles. Later in the opera-tion two dive teams were also deployed tosearch a 3.14 square nautical mile area ofLake Nacogdoches 40 miles Northwest ofToledo Bend.

D a i l y d i v e b r i e f s , g i v e n b ySUPDIVE, directed all dive and securityboat teams. Each morning the dive teamsreceived a dive package containing a divearea, target locations (GPS coordinates), atarget picture (side scan image), and atarget description (size). Packages weregenerated by the data analysts whoworked the night shift analyzing the datafrom the previous day’s side scan search-es. Four Navy teams joined the civiliandive teams and together they clearedapproximately 60 targets per day. SCUBAwas the equipment of choice, with theLWDS used for some of the deeper areasof the reservoir. Divers frequently dove thewhole day, virtually blind, and locatednothing but tree stumps and logs. In thehostile environment of the lake bottom thelearning curve for the data analysts wasslow. Water-soaked wood often reflectedthe sonar signal well enough to fool eventhe best analysts.

The question of the hour was, “If theside scan could locate an object, how canwe confidently place a Diver at the samelocation and clear the target as well as a90-foot box around it?” The first keyobjective was to place the dive team atthe location identified by the side scan

(COLUMBIA continued on page 9)CAPT Chris Murray accepts possible shuttle debris.

LWDS (Light Weight Dive System) deployed.

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(COLUMBIA continued from page 8)

CWO Roger Riendeau is the Officer InCharge of MSDU TWO DET BRAVObased out of Little Creek, VA.

As several weekspassed, the dive teamsand data analysts couldmore readily identify logsand tree stumps andeliminated them from thetarget packages to about a50 percent certainty. Sever-al questions arose, such as“If we are using our sidescan units in such anunconventional way, whatassurance do we have thatthey will be able to pick upa shuttle piece if one ispresent and are the dataanalysts able to identifyit?”

PO Le and PO Gilkey loading the sector scanning sonar.

The COLUMBIA recovery team con-tinued to plumb the depth of ToledoBend Reservoir for 54 days. Once a weekdive leaders from both Navy and civilianteams met to discuss what current pro-cedures worked and what did not. Asweeks passed, dive teams began to seeimages of the reservoir’s past inhabit-ants. Houses, barns, bridges, and roadswere all frequent stops made by Divers.Outside the command post was a pile ofrecovered debris. Car tires, batteries,boat engines, anchors, fishing boxes,perch traps, refrigerators, and the all tooplentiful beer can became constant re-minders to each dive search team thateven though shuttle parts remained elu-sive, if they were out there, they wouldfind it. After two months of intensivesearch and recovery efforts, dive opera-tions were completed on 12 April with ahandful of recovered pieces turned overto NASA officials as possible shuttledebris. All pieces deemed high priorityby NASA, that were thought to residein the reservoir were eventually foundby Texas Forest Service ground walkers.In all, the search and recovery assetsconsisted of two Navy and six contract-ed side scan or multibeam sonars. Ninedive teams (four Navy and five civilian)involved over 140 Divers and searched17.8 square nautical miles. Fifty-one eye-witness reports involving private pondsand cisterns were cataloged, tracked,and cleared. The operation closed outwith 3,100 targets cleared, 3,019 dives,825 hours of bottom time, and a farewellsend-off from the local tavern “TheBloody Bucket”. As a final note, when NASA calledand enlisted the assistance of the Navy,they wanted the best and were con-vinced that nobody could pull an efforttogether better. When the final searchand recovery teams departed on 14April, NASA could rest assured that, al-though substantial debris had not beenfound, nobody else could have done abetter job than Navy Divers. Hooyah.

Houston Police Divers had beenfield-testing a stationary sector scanningsonar from Kongsberg for several -months. The units could be deployed by adive team and are set in the middle of a tri-pod. Before Divers were deployed, thediving supervisor, via laptop computer,mapped out the bottom to a maximumrange of 120 meters. A 30-meter swath orless produced the best image. The advan-tage of this new tool was the ability toprovide the same images that the sidescan produced whereby a positive targetidentification could be made. The unitscould also scan the bottom simultaneous-ly navigating the diver around obstaclesfrom topside. In addition to this proce-dure, Navy teams carried a hand-held AN/PQS 2A and the civilian teams used metaldetectors to complete a 100+ percentageof area coverage.

sonars. This was accomplished by using aGarmin GPS that was Wide Area Augmen-tation System (WAAS) capable. Theseunits often placed the dive team withinfeet of the target location. The second keyobjective was to place a Diver with 100%confidence on the exact target.

A test range was setup containing four piecesof actual shuttle debrisranging in size and shape,various pieces of trash,and several boxes made toreplicate the OEX record-er. The recorder was the

most important missing piece and it washoped that it retained information fromthe final seconds of flight. The testrange was set up in a 30-foot deep, un-cluttered area of water. A second testrange, replicating the first, was set up ina 75-foot deep cluttered area representa-tive of the normal conditions in the res-ervoir. Each scanning asset took turnsrunning the cluttered and unclutteredtest ranges. Three days of testingshowed that even on a good day in opti-mal water conditions, the processorscould accurately identify only the largestof the debris pieces measuring 4 ft. by 5ft. All other pieces showed some reflec-tivity but would have been dismissed inreal time video as other than shuttle de-bris. The result was, to say the least, dis-couraging. Experts were then brought into evaluate the current search techniques,equipment presently in use, data, and thereservoir’s conditions. After a day of dis-cussion it was determined that we had thebest equipment, the most experienced op-erators, and there was nothing more theycould recommend to further enhance whatwas already in place.

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INTRODUCTION

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By: Bill Walker��

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(USS MISSISSINEWA continued on page 11)

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In February 2003 a joint U.S. Navy teamconsisting of Fleet units, SUPSALV and

contractor personnel removed nearly 2million gallons of oil from the leakingWorld War II oiler USS MISSISSINEWAin the remote Ulithi Atoll, Yap state, Feder-ated States of Micronesia (FSM). Follow-ing two previous Navy operations topatch MISSISSINEWA’s leaks in late 2001and early 2002, and in response to a re-quest from the Governor of Yap, via theState Department, the Chief of Naval Op-erations (CNO) initiate oil removal opera-tions. CNO directed the office of the Su-pervisor of Salvage (SUPSALV) ofthe Naval Sea Systems Command, to un-dertake planning and implementation ofthe oil removal, pending the results of anEnvironmental Assessment (EA) of theproposed oil removal. When the EA re-sulted in a Finding of No Significant Im-pact (FONSI), in August 2002, CNO di-rected SUPSALV to proceed with oil re-moval and directed Commander PacificFleet (COMPACFLT) to provide NavyDivers and a diving vessel to support theoperation. USS SALVOR (ARS 52) wasassigned to provide diver support and herCommanding Officer LCDR John Carterwas designated the Navy’s On-SceneCommander under a Commander Seventh

USS MISSISSINEWA sinks, November 1944.

leak. A State of Emergency was declaredfor the spill site. The U.S. Coast Guard(USCG) and National Oceanic and Atmo-spheric Administration (NOAA) sent ateam to assess the impacts of the spill andthe need for shoreline cleanup. At the di-rection of CNO, SUPSALV rapidly mobi-lized a contractor scuba dive team toverify the source of the oil release. Whileon site, the SUPSALV team quantified therelease rate, plugged the leak source andremoved trapped oil likely to be releasedwith the next storm. In late December2001, the vessel started leaking again, andCNO dispatched a more robust team,adding MDSU ONE surface-supplied airDivers to the SUPSALV/contractor mix.SUPSALV’s Emergency Ship Salvage Ma-terial (ESSM) and Pollution Responsecontractor “GPC – a Joint Venture” (GPC)mobilized the sub-contracted supportvessel SMIT PIONEER from Singaporeto serve as the support platform. This

USS SALVOR crew rendering honors toMISSISSINEWA crew.

Fleet chain of command. MobileDiving and Salvage Unit ONE(MDSU ONE) and ExplosiveOrdnance Disposal Mobile UnitFIVE (EODMU FIVE) in Guamwere directed to provide addi-tional Divers and diving equip-ment to support the mission. Ul-timately, resources were mobi-lized from Pearl Harbor, Guam,Singapore, Williamsburg, VA,Port Hueneme, CA, Anchorage,AK, New Orleans, LA, andWashington, DC to undertakethe oil removal operation.

BACKGROUND

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USS MISSISSINEWA wassunk by a Japanese manned

suicide torpedo, or “kaiten,” onthe morningof 20 November 1944, whileanchored in the lagoon at Ulithi Atoll,approximately 360 miles southwest ofGuam. Sixty-three members of her crewwere lost in the attack. At the timeof sinking, the MISSISSINEWA wascarrying a full load of Navy Special FuelOil (NSFO), aviation gasoline, and dieselfuel. The actual location of the wreck was

uncertain until 6 April 2001, whenDivers from the San Francisco Bayarea located and were the first todive on the wreck of the 553-footMISSISSINEWA in Ulithi Lagoon. On 6 August 2001, the Yap gov-ernment received a report of an oilspill in Ulithi Lagoon. Surveys bygovernment officials dispatchedto the site on 7 August confirmedthat the oil was leaking fromMISSISSINEWA. A storm had re-cently passed over the area and mayhave been a factor in the start of the

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THE OIL REMOVALOPERATION

(USS MISSISSINEWA continued from page 10)


The Oil Planning

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Planning for USS MISSISSINEWA oilremoval operations commenced infor-

mally following the two Navy survey/patching operations when it was deter-mined that sporadic small oil releases werelikely to continue and that a catastrophi-cally large release was possible. Formalplanning began with development of the“Proposed Action” portion of the Environ-mental Assessment. An EA requires a pre-sentation of the Proposed Action, in thiscase the oil removal, in sufficient detail todetermine the action’s potential impact onthe environment. Following the Finding ofNo Significant Impact (FONSI) and direc-tion from CNO to proceed, a detailed Oper-ations Plan was developed, based on theEA’s Proposed Action, and furtherspecifying personnel, equipment, and pro-cedural requirements.

As noted above, CNO formallytasked SUPSALV with planning and exe-cuting the offloading operation and taskedCommander Pacific Fleet (CPF) with pro-viding a diving support platform andNavy Divers to support the effort. Theinvolvement of Navy Fleet units triggeredNavy Fleet planning in the formof several Concepts of Operation(CONOPs), addressing diving operations,medical evacuations, and related Navyoperational requirements. These CONOPsare beyond the scope of this article.

SUPSALV tasked GPC with develop-ing the detailed oil removal operations

USS MISSISSINEWA concept of operations schematic.

plan, assemblingthe offloading sys-tems using Navy-owned, SUPSALVEmergency ShipSalvage Material(ESSM) equipment,providing appropri-ate commercial sup-port vessels, andproviding an opera-tions team to sup-port the on-sceneSUPSALV repre-sentative with tech-nical advise, top-side diver support (of ESSM equipment),and a pumping crew.

The concept of operations for off-loading MISSISSINEWA relied upon anexperienced salvage team with surface-supplied air Divers using hot tap tools(described below) to access the ship’s car-go and fuel tanks through the invertedhull that rested in 130 feet of water. Diverswould then rig submersible pumps anddischarge hoses to transfer oil fromMISSISSINEWA’s tanks to a tank vesselmoored over the wreck. The diving sup-port platform, USS SALVOR, would bemoored alongside the tank vessel. Threetwin-drum mooring winches on the tankvessel would allow controlled movementof the vessels in the six-point moor andthus precise positioning of diving stationson SALVOR directly over target locationson MISSISSINEWA’S hull. Upon comple-tion of offloading, the recovered oil was tobe transported in the tank vessel to a re-ceiving port to be sold for power plantfuel or refinery feedstock.

The EA and subsequent briefings forthe Governor of Yap and his environmen-tal staff had made it clear that even if alltanks could be tapped and pumped asplanned, approximately one half of onepercent of the pre-offload volume ofMISSISSINEWA oil would likely remainon board at termination of oil removaloperations. Remaining oil would includeoil clinging inside the emptied tanks or ininaccessible piping or other inaccessibleareas of the wreck. The offloading opera-tion would not preclude further minor

releases, but should prevent future signif-icant releases.

A hot tapping is a process in whicha pipe flange and valve are bolted or weld-ed to the shell plating of the hull over thehigh point of a tank. With the valveopened, the hot tap device (like a holesaw) is secured to the valve, and the cut-ter head advanced through the valve andagainst the hull and then rotated to cut ahole (in our case a 3.5 inch diameter hole)through the hull. The cutter is thenretracted back through the valve, thevalve closed, and the hot tap deviceremoved and replaced by a hose to thesuction end of a submersible pump. Witha hose then attached to the discharge endof the pump, the valve is opened andpumping can commence. In some cases(e.g. tank vents no longer open), a secondhole must be cut low in the tank to allowingress of water to replace the oilremoved.

For purposes of discussion, theMISSISSINEWA oil removal operation isdivided into four phases – Planning,Mobilization, On-Scene Operations, andDemobilization.

second team arrived at the site in earlyFebruary 2002, to conduct further assess-ments. Again, they were able to plug theleak (at a different point this time) while onscene. Through tank sampling and ex-trapolation the Navy surveys revealedthat up to 2.8 million gallons of oil remainedin MISSISSINEWA’s tanks.

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Mobilization for MISSISSINEWAoffloading included the movement

of five support vessels from Hawaii andSingapore, Navy diving equipment fromHawaii and Guam, and other Navy andcommercial support equipment from Vir-ginia, Louisiana, Hawaii, and Singapore.Navy, Navy contractor, and sub-contrac-tor personnel were mobilized from Hawaii,Guam, Washington, DC, Williamsburg, VA,Port Hueneme, CA, Anchorage, AK, andSingapore.

Mobilization for Offloading

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USS SALVOR proceeded from herhome port of Pearl Harbor in mid-January2003, with SUPSALV Pearl Harbor ESSMsupport equipment, and MDSU ONE div-ing equipment, as well as her own allow-ance of diving equipment, including herinstalled recompression chamber. USSSALVOR stopped in Guam to pick upMDSU ONE and EODMU FIVE Divers,and additional diving equipment, includ-ing an EODMU FIVE Fly-Away Recom-pression Chamber (FARC). She then pro-ceeded to Ulithi Atoll, arriving toward theend of January 2003.

After an exhaustive search for sup-port vessels, GPC hired two tank vessels(barges) out of Singapore, rather than one,to receive MISSISSINEWA oil and to pro-vide primary salvage support. A pair of an-chor-handling tugs were hired to tow thetwo barges, provide additional hotel ser-vices for SUPSALV and contractor per-sonnel, and to install the six-point moor.One barge, FELS 20, went to a shipyard inSingapore to be outfitted with all salvagesupport equipment – mooring winches, 60-ton crane, berthing modules (for the addi-tional Divers), and related support sys-tems, including a sanitary wastewater treat-ment plant for USS SALVOR, and for herown on-board berthing modules that in-cluded showers and toilets.

ESSM salvage and spill responseequipment from Williamsburg, andSingapore and support equipment, includ-ing leased marine sanitation devices (forwastewater treatment) from Louisiana weretransported by ship to Singapore for in-stallation on FELS 20. The second barge,FELS 21, was to be the primary receptionvessel for MISSISSINEWA oil and re-quired no significant preparation prior todeployment. In mid-January 2003, thelarger tug, SEACOR ROVER with FELS 20,and the smaller JAYA MARLIN with FELS21 departed Singapore for the approxi-mately 2-week transit to Ulithi Atoll.

SUPSALV and GPC personnel basedin Washington, DC, Williamsburg, VA,Port Hueneme, CA, Anchorage, AK, andPearl Harbor, HI, flew from their respectivebases to Yap, Federated States ofMicronesia (FSM) and then on to the is-land of Falalop at Ulithi Atoll in a small Moore Barge FELS 20 with nested support vessels.

Pacific Missionary Airways aircraft. FromFalalop, it was an exciting, small,open boat transit of eight miles to theMISSISSINEWA site to meet SEACORROVER.

On-Scene Oil Removal Operations

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Response vessels and personnel ren-dezvoused at Ulithi Atoll around 1

February 2003. SEACOR ROVER arrivedfirst with the primary support platform,Barge FELS 20, met with an advance SUP-SALV/ GPC team and commenced posi-tioning FELS 20 in the six-point moor. USSSALVOR then moored alongside FELS 20and commenced setting up dive stationson her fantail. The 60-ton crane and asmall forklift truck on FELS 20 were usedto transfer shipping containers and equip-ment between SALVOR and FELS 20, andto set up pumping stations and supportequipment on the support barge. The sec-ond barge, FELS 21 was moored alongsideFELS 20, opposite SALVOR to receive oilpumped from MISSISSINEWA.

All vessels were positioned overMISSISSINEWA and rigged for pumpingoperations on 4 February 2003, and NavyDivers on SALVOR commenced divingoperations. After an initial scuba survey,Mark 21 Divers positioned a “navigationgrid” on MISSISSINEWA using a networkof wires and magnets to assist Divers in

positioning hot taps at precise, pre-deter-mined locations (the highest point in eachtank to be pumped). Divers then secureda pumping manifold to one of MISSISSIN-EWA’s bilge keels, with a 4-inch dis-charge hose to the surface. A lightweight,4-inch submersible pump with suctionand discharge hoses were rigged betweenhot tap accesses and the manifold as off-loading progressed.

The manifold isolated the relativelyweak hot tap flanges from the stresses oftopside vessel motion transmitted throughthe discharge hoses.

With the navigation grid in place andinitial pump rigging in place, the Diversproceeded with implementation of the off-loading plan, sequentially hot tappingeach tank and space known to contain oilfrom the previous surveys. The Divers hottapping procedure at each location was asfollows: clean marine growth from the des-ignated hot tap location on the hull, posi-tion a flange against the cleaned hull withmagnet-clamps, drill and install self-tap-ping bolts to secure the flange to the hull,mount a shut-off valve on the flange, se-cure the hot tap (hole saw) device to thevalve’s oil/water-tight cam loc fitting,open the valve, advance the cutter headthrough the valve to the hull, rotate thecutter head using a hydraulic tool as the

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Bill Walker (NAVSEA 00C25B) is aSalvage Specialist and EnvironmentalEngineer at NAVSEA 00C.

CONCLUSION


A Diver taking an oil sample.

cutter head is advanced through the hull,secure cutting when through the hull andretract the cutter head from the hull backthrough the valve, close the valve, replacethe hot tap device on the valve cam loccoupling with a short suction hose to thesubmersible pump. Oil floating at the top ofthe tapped tank can now be pumped tothe moored vessels, to be replaced by in-gress of seawater through open tank ventsor other tank openings.

Each tank confirmed to contain oilwas hot tapped and pumped off in thismanner. Pump discharge was sampledcontinuously as it was discharged intoFELS 21. As the bulk of the oil wasremoved from each tank during initialpumping, when a significant percentageof water was detected, pumping wassecured on that tank to allow remainingoil to migrate through internal tank struc-tures to the top, and water to settle outfrom the oil. A series of pumping and set-tling cycles were required, more on sometanks than on others, before salvors wereconfident that as much oil as possiblehad been removed from each tank. All oiland water pumped (about 7 % of the totalvolume pumped was free water) wasretained on the receiving barge for trans-port and sale/disposal in Singapore.When all removable oil had been pumpedfrom each tank, all fittings were removedfrom each hot tap flange and the holeswere capped in a manner preventingfuture access by unauthorized personnel.

Demobilization

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Upon completion of oil removal opera-tions, Divers performed a final

survey of the hull to ensure that all hot tapcaps were securely in place and there wasno indication of further oil release.SALVOR then secured from divingoperations, re-stowed all gear, transferredequipment to and from FELS 20, and gotunderway for return to Pearl Harbor, viaGuam to disembark EODMU FIVEpersonnel and equipment.

Three additional days were requiredto recover the 6-point moor and re-pack,re-stow, and secure all gear on FELS 20for the return transit to Singapore. SUP-SALV and GPC personnel assisted prior tosmall boat transit to Falalop for returnflights home. For the return to Singapore,the larger, more capable SEACOR ROVERtowed the FELS 21 with her full load ofMISSISSINEWA oil and JAYA MARLINtowed the FELS 20 with her deck load ofsalvage equipment. ROVER and MARLINdeparted Ulithi Atoll with their tows atmidnight on 1 March 2003, two weeksahead of schedule, after just about amonth of MISSISSINEWA offloading operations. It was about three months be-fore all equipment was returned to theSUPSALV ESSM bases and other suppli-ers around the world. ESSM equipmentrefurbishment continued for about anoth-er month after that.

Divers on stage during MISSISSINEWA oilrecovery operations.

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The MISSISSINEWA offloading operation was highly successful in all

respects. The threat of a significant fu-ture release of oil into the pristine UlithiAtoll was eliminated. While small, inac-cessible volumes of oil remain on board,it is unlikely that even minor future re-leases will be detected. Nearly 2 milliongallons of potentially damaging cargoand fuel oil were removed through thejoint, on-scene efforts of a team con-sisting of Navy Fleet Sailors and Diversfrom three Navy commands, NAVSEASUPSALV, SUPSALV’s contractor -GPC, a major subcontractor, four com-mercial vessels and a Navy salvage ves-sel. A little-known relationship betweenthe United States government and theFederated States of Micronesia (FSM),under a formal “Compact of Free Asso-ciation” was cemented. Ulithi Atoll is-landers of the four inhabited islandsaround the lagoon, as well as officials ofYap state of the FSM, were delightedwith the successful oil removal. TheUlithi islanders rely on the bountifulwaters of the Ulithi lagoon for subsis-tence fishing as well as to support afledgling tourism industry. Relativelynew ESSM hot tap equipment was pro-cured, systems assembled, supportitems identified and all componentssuccessfully exercised with the supportof Navy Fleet Divers and Salvors. Fi-nally, in addition to the operational suc-cesses, we should note that the Navysuccessfully implemented requirementsunder the National EnvironmentalPolicy Act (NEPA) for preparation of anEnvironmental Assessment (EA) leadingto a Finding of No Significant Impact(FONSI). Through the EA and FONSI,NAVSEA and Fleet salvage forces notonly met regulatory requirements, butalso perhaps more importantly, engagedin environmental planning that facili-tated a successful salvage operationwith minimal impact on the environment.

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By: HTC (MDV) Michael E. Moser

Divers hot tapping a cargo tank onMISSISSINEWA.

Samples of contaminated water.


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On 3 February 2002, a Mobile Divingand Salvage Detachment from Mo-

bile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE (MDSUONE) was deployed to Commander Sev-enth Fleet area of responsibility. TheMDSU ONE Detachment and an elementfrom Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mo-bile Unit FIVE (EODMU FIVE), with tech-nical and contracted support fromNAVSEA, located and patched a dam-aged service pipe, securing the source ofthe leak. The task organization completeda thorough survey and gathered data tosupport the decision to remove MIS-SISSINEWA’s remaining cargo. Engi-neers determined that the oil had to bepumped out of MISSISSINEWA and col-lected prior to a catastrophic release. Inconjunction with MDSU ONE, USS SAL-VOR, NAVSEA, and COMPACFLT devel-oped a Concept of Operations to mobilizeforces to Ulithi, remove and collect MIS-SISSINEWA’s cargo.

On 3 February 2002, a Mo-bile Diving and Salvage Detach-ment from Mobile Diving andSalvage Unit ONE (MDSU ONE)was deployed to CommanderSeventh Fleet area of responsi-bility. The MDSU ONE Detach-ment and an element from Explo-sive Ordnance Disposal MobileUnit FIVE (EODMU FIVE), withtechnical and contracted supportfrom NAVSEA, located andpatched a damaged service pipesecuring the source of the leak.The task organization completeda thorough survey and gathered data tosupport the decision to removeMISSISSINEWA’s remaining cargo. Engi-neers determined that the oil had to bepumped out of MISSISSINEWA and col-lected prior to a catastrophic release. Inconjunction with MDSU ONE, USS SAL-VOR, NAVSEA, and COMPACFLT devel-oped a Concept of Operations to mobilizeforces to Ulithi, remove and collectMISSISSINEWA’s cargo.

On 13 January 2003, USS SALVOR,as designated on-scene commander, de-ployed from Pearl Harbor with an elementof MDSU ONE DET FIVE. On 28 January,SALVOR arrived in Guam where sheembarked additional equipment, includinga chamber and Divers from EODMU FIVE,arriving at the objective on February 2nd. The first task was to establish a markedgrid system to support the location of vari-ous points along the hull. The grid systemconsisted of a main wire running fore to aftalong the center of the hull. Severalbranch wires were run athwartship. Withany point on the hull defined by the gridsystem, Divers were able to accurately lo-cate targeted tanks under the two inchesof sea growth covering the hull.

MDSU ONE DET FIVE was par-ticularly well suited for participation in thisoperation. During previous recoveryoperations, several members of thedetachment gathered invaluable ex-

perience operating “Hot Tap” equipment.Hot tapping equipment enables Divers topenetrate the hull or any bulkhead of aship to access and collect liquid cargo.The system is designed to prevent releaseof the cargo to the environment whilebreaching the integrity of the hull. In orderto access the cargo in MISSISSINEWA,Divers first cleared over 50 years of marinegrowth from designated 2-foot diametersections of the hull at each of the targeted

oil tanks. They then attached a flange tothe cleared area, and screwed a 4-inch ballvalve onto the male threads of the flange.Divers then opened the ball valve,clamped the “Hot Tap” tool to the valveassembly, and advanced a hydraulically-powered hole saw blade through thecenter of the ball valve assembly and intothe hull of MISSISSINEWA. Once the bitwas through the hull, Divers slowlyretracted the tool and closed the ball valvepreventing escape of the liquid cargo. Withseawater, oil and air inside several of thetanks, Divers were often required to cyclethe ball valve and permit the air (lightestmedium) to escape prior to connectingcollection hoses. Finally, 4-inch collectionhoses were connected, and the oil wasrecovered as pumps on the barge lifted theoil into collection tanks. Later, pumps inthe water column were added to help pushthe oil to the surface.

Fuel oil, still in MISSISSINEWA’sservice and storage systems, had to beremoved as well. HT1 Rick Pelton, an ex-pert at underwater cutting and welding,made the first cut into the ship’s hull toaccess the interior fuel tanks. Using

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HTC (MDV) Michael E. Moser, MDSUONE DET FIVE, Pearl Harbor, HI.

This year’s MDV/CWO conference washeld 14-16 May in Panama City, FL andcovered a variety of topics. A sampling ofsome first day presentations are: MDVHeineman’s review of the DSWS programand the newly approved OPNAV1414.3A(Diving Salvage Warfare Specialist Quali-fication), BMCM Prat covered SEA WAR-RIOR 21, MDV Briggs reviewed the man-ning situation, and MDV Curtis coveredthe 5V model including the pros and consof the Diver rate. On the second day webroke up into four working groups of Sal-vage, UWSH, Personnel & Training, andSPECWAR/EOD/USMC. From thesegroups, point papers were presented, dis-cussed, and action items and deadlines wereassigned. These point papers and the re-sulting action items (with responsibilityand due dates) are available for review athttp://www.supsalv.org. Please take thetime to review. If you have input or sug-gestions please call or e-mail any of us hereat NAVSEA.

MDV/CWO Conference 2003

Shipfitter First Class Bill Delanoy, USS GREENLET(ASR 10) in 1956.

exothermic techniques, he cut a six by six-foot door into the side of the hull. Next,investigative holes were drilled in cargoholds. No oil was found, and uponcompletion of the internal work, LT (jg)Christopher Reece, SALVOR’s DivingOfficer, welded a steel cover overthe opening to prevent recreationalDivers from entering MISSISSINEWA.

With the oil removed from the tanks,an arduous task remained; the oil servicepiping inside the hull needed to be drained. MM3 Paul Odermann and HT2Luke Johnson entered MISSISSINEWAthrough a damaged section of the hullwhere the Japanese “kaiten” hit. Workingaround jagged and twisted steel, thedivers advanced 50 feet into the wreckagewhere they found the patch MDSU ONEDivers placed in December 2001. Theyreplaced the deteriorated flange and

attached a pumping hose to remove theremaining oil. With the oil transfer com-pleted, a new flange was installed to sealthe pipe.

Each unit involved contributed sig-nificantly to the successful completion ofthis operation, from leadership and techni-cal expertise to the well-maintained lifesupport equipment. Additionally, this op-eration took three weeks to complete; themission was accomplished successfullytwo weeks ahead of projected schedule.No personnel were injured, and no liquidcargo was released to the environment.

As a result of the salvage team’sefforts, 1.96 million gallons of crude oilwas removed as a potential hazard fromthe pristine Ulithi Lagoon.


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With sadness, we note the passingof a U.S. Navy Diving Legend -

CDR (ret) Billie L. Delanoy, who passedaway recently at his home in California.His name was synonymous for manyyears with all the best of which was andhas become Navy Diving and Salvage.

Born in 1928, he enlisted in the U.S.Navy in 1946 and was designated a Diverin 1947. Prior to his commissioning in 1958,he served on almost every possiblesalvage ship and repair tender in thePacific. Following his commission, heserved in many diving related billetsincluding: Training Officer at the NavalSchool of Diving and Salvage, NSDS(Washington, DC), XO of the USSSAFEGUARD (ARS 25), CO of the USSUTE (ATF 76), and XO of HarborClearance Unit ONE during which hehelped author the first official salvagemanual. He then served as XO of the DiveSchool in Washington, DC beforeassuming duties as Commanding Officerin 1969. After command of the USS

GREENLET (ASR 10) his final tourwas as Commanding Officer of theMan-in-the-Sea Program in SanDiego.

Upon his retirement from activeduty in 1971, he continued to work inthe diving community as Vice Presi-dent of Taylor Diving and Salvage in-volved with work in the oil field andcommercial diving. In addition to serv-ing as a Salvage and Ocean Towingconsultant for many maritime firms,the US Navy hired him as a consult-ant to develop and conduct the initialcrew training for the new ARS 50SAFEGUARD class salvage ship.

A recognized expert in divingand salvage, he served as the Lloyd’sof London’s insurance firm’s expertwitness in over 20 court cases involv-ing maritime disasters. He was largerthan life to many and the epitome ofhonesty and the embodiment of agentleman. His contributions will belong remembered.

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By: LT ( jg) Sara H. Olson

MISERY LOVES COMPANYLOVES

Misery loves company – just ask anyof the eleven Master Diver (MDV)

candidates that attended Mobile Divingand Salvage Unit TWO (MDSU TWO)MDV pre-screening in the freezing rainfrom October 27-31, 2003. They enduredthe biting rain, heavy current, and re-duced visibility of the Patuxent river tolearn where they “…stand with achievingthe goal of becoming a MDV,” said candi-date HTC Fleming.

Warrant Officer Riendeau, ProjectDiving Officer, and BMCS (MDV)Mariano, Project Master Diver, spentweeks developing drills that would chal-lenge the candidates to think beyondwhat is explicitly stated in the DiveManual. MDSU TWO Master DiversMariano, Mallet, and Daniels enlisted theexpertise of MDVs Orns, Roberson, andHeater to ensure this year’s pre-screeningaccurately reflected what the candidates’will experience during MDV evaluations.

The result was an learn-ing experience for all.“We try to present real-life scenarios, that areslightly more challengingthan those presented dur-ing evals,” explainedMDV Mariano. One can-didate, who attended pre-screening three previoustimes, testified that thiswas the most educationaland well organized onehe has attended. Anothercandidate described thetwo weeks of diving anddrills as “by far the most educational expe-rience in my diving career.” That senti-ment was echoed by all the candidates andDivers present.

Four of the eleven candidates weredesignated as primaries and selected tosupervise drills throughout the free and

graded weeks. Divers from MDSU TWOrepeated the exact same scenarios for eachcandidate whose responses were gradedby the MDVs. The enthusiasm and moti-vation demonstrated by the MDSU TWODivers in faithfully repeating each sce-nario contributed directly to the success-

ful completion of the entire two weeks.The seven secondary candidates ob-served each scenario and freely dis-cussed and debated the “correct”course of action. In addition to theMDV evaluation, FMGS and dive sta-tion training were conducted for the en-tire dive team throughout the two weeksand contributed directly to two FirstClass Divers qualifying as UnlimitedMixed Gas Diving Supervisor duringthe pre-screening.

MDSU TWO conducts two MDVpre-screenings per year to prepare can-didates for MDV evaluations at the Na-val Diving and Salvage Training Centerin Panama City, FL. This year, over halfthe candidates traveled cross-countryfor the chance to perform and learn in“real, on-the-side situations.” It was agreat learning experience for all in-volved and as stated by MMC Brustad,“you could not buy this kind of training.FANTASTIC!”

MDV Mariano briefing MDV candidate, HTC Fleming.

Deploying MK 20 Diver (SUPDIVE) during Underwater Ships Husbandry Drill.

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• For commands interested in ex-panding their TRCS system, Cowanoffers the Modified Transfer Lock(MTL) that accommodates 5 peopleand was initially designed as acomponent of the US Navy SRDRSSubmarine Rescue System.

• Commands are authorized to use anyANU approved O

2 or CO

2 monitor-

ing system. Revisions to drawingand tech manual will reflect this.

• NAVSEA is in the process of review-ing and revising technical manuals,drawings, OPs, and EPs.

• Flask racks for the TRCS systemrequire tipping to remove excessmoisture from the flasks after beingcharged. The one exception is, if youhave an ANU approved purificationcartridge system installed on yourcompressor, tipping is not required.ESSM has reported that TRCS flasksthat they have received recentlyhave an excess amount of water inthem, which equates to PMS notbeing performed. Those commandswith TRCS systems permanentlyinstalled in ISO containers or build-ings will be required to have an ANUapproved purification cartridgesystem installed prior to next cer-tification.

TRCS

Step-by-Step

NEDU has certified clean and ready toinstall HP/MP/LP hose assemblies.Examples include but are not limited toFADS, MK3 MOD 0, TRCS, and SCUBA.All hoses are pressure-tested and cleanedto required cleanliness standard forsystem requirements. Commands willreceive all required testing, cleaning, andobjective quality evidence for inclusion intheir hose log. Hose assemblies can besupplied with or without strength membermarried in place with caps or plugs per-manently attached to each end of the hosefor foreign material exclusion devices.

Viewports

Buoyancy Compensators

Due to the rapid advances and ever-changing world of BCs, Commercial Offthe Shelf (COTS) BCs not listed on theANU list, that meet the following fourrequirements, will be authorized for Navyuse:

1. Has an oral inflation tube2. Has a power inflation device3. Has quick release of weight w/o

chance of fouling4. Has 10 lbs positive lift at maximum

depth.Commands are responsible to ensure thatthese requirements are met prior to use.

To download Luxfer’s SCUBA CylinderVisual Inspection Guide that is required toperform the A-6R on 5921/019, pleasefollow the instructions below:

Questions have been raised about O-ringhardness, specifically in the Transport-able Recompression Chamber System(TRCS). The TRCS O&M Manual anddrawings call for M83248/1, where /1 des-ignates 75 durometer and /2 designates 90durometer. The Joint Fleet MaintenanceManual (JFMM) calls for 75 durometer onLP systems and 90 durometer on HP sys-tems. In specific diving applications, thehardness of the O-ring depends on a num-ber of factors and an across-the-boardhardness is not always the best fit. Incases of conflict, follow the system’s spe-cific technical manual and drawings asclosely as possible. Use of a differentdurometer O-ring requires a Minor Depar-ture from Specifications to be signed out inaccordance with the Divers Re-Entry Con-trol System.

1. Type in URL: www.luxfer.com

Transportable Recompression Chamber System (TRCS).

Relief Valves

MIP 5921/034-73, MRC 36M-6R allows forin-place testing of relief valves. This MRCmust be accomplished with a controlledwork package with appropriate safetyprecautions. This MRC is not authorizedfor use on recompression chamber orcompressors.

Process Instruction 00C3-PI-006 (View-ports) will be in effect soon and will cancelAIG 03-05. It changes the following MIPS:H-012/006, 5921/020, and 5921/177.

2. Click on “Luxfer Gas Cylinders”

4. Click on the “Downloads” link

5. Click “Register” (Highlighted in red)

6. Enter the required data

7. Download the Luxfer’s SCUBACylinder Visual Inspection Guide.

3. Under “Gas Cylinder Divisions”,click icon to enter site

This page is designed to give the readers�“Bits and Pieces” of various topics in regard to diving and its systems.

O-ring

HP/MP/LP Hose Assemblies

“Service to the Fleet”

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By: DC1 DV Jon Sommers

NAVIMFAC PACNORWEST DET Everett

Nestled between two piers, on a float-ing Vietnam-era barge which used to

serve as a makeshift morgue, lies the DiveLocker of NAVIMFAC PACNORWESTDET Everett. Located about 45 miles northof Seattle, WA, Naval Station Everett wasopened in 1994 for the sole purpose ofberthing the aircraft carrier USS ABRA-HAM LINCOLN. NAVSTA Everett is nowhome to three FFGs and one new ArleighBurke DDG as well as supporting an on-going rotation of various support craft andPCs for homeland security purposes.IMF Det Everett is the surface force de-tachment of IMF Bangor. The R6 DivisionDive Locker is part of that detachment. Forthose of you who have been around andunderstand limited resources, that makesus the step-children of the step-children.Monetary assets aside, the Dive Locker atIMF Det Everett gets the job done.

Billeted for 15, the locker’s currenttally is 10. Three 1st Class Divers, six 2nd

Class Divers, and MDV Winter. Our assets

include one MK-3 LWDS, oneROPER cart, and a 22-ft Bos-ton Whaler used extensivelyfor SCUBA and Force Protec-tion tasking. Our primary job isUWSH plus the multitude ofsecurity swims involved withforce protection.

The jobs completed bythis locker have included:waterborne propeller replace-ments on an aircraft carrier,CPP blade replacements, CPPhub seal repairs, APU repairand propeller replacement, so-nar dome rubber window re-pair, shaft stern tube seals, nu-merous cofferdam jobs, and the bread andbutter hull inspections and cleanings.

The first half of this year has beenbusy. One of our FFG’s tangled with someKEVLAR fishing netting, ripping off halfof her upper ropeguard, sending it bounc-ing off the churning blades of her screw.

One of the blades re-quired replacement, therest required extensivegrooming to their leadingedges and a new rope-guard needed to bemanufactured. The bladereplacement and CPPhub seal repair wentas smoothly as theyshould, taking aroundtwo days. The ropeguardtook four tries to get amatch, taking the betterpart of a week. In the mid-dle of this, the lockerwrote and completed 27RECs for the certificationof a newly acquired TRCS. June would see twomore shaft seal jobs (five

CDR Rosner, DC1/DV Sommers, QM1/DV Stewart poseas heroes of the last dive.

Divers complete debrief during clean time.From left to right: EM1/DV Rowles, EN2/DV Ayers, HT3/DVDouglas, BM2/DV Keezer (seated), BM2/DV Roberts (seated),DC1/DV Sides, MDV, DC1/DV Sommers, CDR Reimers XOSUPSHIP listens intently, he’s the next diver in the water.

in four months), at NISMO Bremerton,WA. The first day of the job, a requestwas received from a local family for abody recovery in a nearby lake. The daybefore, the local law enforcement diveteam had searched for 4 .5 hours to noavail. The Navy dive team recovered thebody in just under an hour. Another testa-ment to the organizational skills, teamwork, and professionalism of NavyDivers.

If you are looking to relax and re-tire in the Northwest, this is not yourplace. Every boot is shined and thedecks look like glass. The old schoolways still live on. Overtime is autho-rized. It’s the right way to do business.Navy Divers are the cream of the crop,the king of the mountain. It is up to usto ensure we do not rest on our laurels,to constantly challenge ourselves andour community to aspire to even high-er standards. The diving community iscurrently in a state of great change.Our future is in OUR hands. The futurewill be what WE make it. Are YOUready? Hoo Yah Navy Deep-SeaDivers!

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The day of my retirement is gettingcloser than I would like to believe. Theselast thirty-one years have passed in a blinkof an eye. So, here is my chance to do alittle article for FACEPLATE. As most ofyou know, I have not pursued a career inwriting, but here it goes.

The U.S. Navy Diving program is thebest in the world. We have proved this byalways being ready for any situation thatmay arise, whether it takes place here or insome other country. The way that we havedone this is with professional personnelexcelling with the equipment at their dis-posal. Also, our young Divers just comingto us from Dive School are no longer justknuckle dragging brutes, they are Divers -well-trained and educated. We have be-come well known as the technical expertsin all aspects of diving. We are no longerjust tied to salvage or ships husbandry,now we are with Spec War Units, EODUnits, and Marine Corps Units.

The diving community has gonethrough many changes in the last 15

years, with many more changeson the way. Salvage ships andrepair ships are almost a thingof the past and the opportu-nity to serve on-board scarce.This has made it impossible insome cases for personnel towork in their ratings. Which iswhy I believe that a diver rat-ing might not be such a badidea. With our own rating wewill be advanced with theknowledge you have obtainedas a Diver. With this new rat-ing Divers should be detailed to eachtype of diving command through theirnaval career. This will ensure that theymeet all qualification requirements forthe new rating.

This is why it is imperative thatthose in the leadership positions be re-sponsible for maintaining the higheststandard of training so our personnelare always at peak readiness. This willensure that we are always ready for

By: MDV Lino F. Matteoni

what may happen. Training is one of thebest ways to prevent accidents, whichneed not occur. Not only do we have totrain our Divers, but also the junior andsenior personnel that work along side ofus, so that they will have a better under-standing of what we do. This will makecommunications go smoother.

It has been an honor to serve in thediving community. I wish you all the bestin the future of our diving community.

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By: Otto Adams��

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This issue of FACEPLATE containsarticles covering the work and efforts

of Mobile Diving and Salvage Units ONEand TWO and the Underwater Construc-tion Teams. Their deployments duringIRAQI FREEDOM and the missions andtasks that these commands completedwere a tremendous help to the war effortand demonstrated the value of the NavyFleet Diver. Hoo Yah Navy Deep-SeaDivers!

Retiring MDVs

We are losing well over three-hundred years of diving experience withthe retirement of the following MasterDivers: MDV Ray Augustine, MDV ScottHeineman, MDV Dick Schlinkerman, MDVKen Hinkebein, MDV Barry Burgess,MDV Jim Phalin, MDV Mike Washington,MDV Don Curtis, MDV Lino Matteoni,MDV Rusty Hunt, MDV John Schnoering,and MDV Paul Gridina.

Many thanks for the thousands ofdives you supervised, the hundreds ofhours you spent on the bottom, thenumerous Divers that you have taughtand influenced to become better Sailorsand Divers and to the daily contributionyou have made to making this great Navyand Nation what they are today. Hoo Yah!

New MDVs

Congratulations to our newestMaster Divers. The standard has been setby the Master Divers that came beforeyou. It is now your turn to lead our youngDivers and to grow tomorrow’s MasterDivers. Most recent Master Divers to bepinned: BMC (DSW/SW/MDV) DonGrubbs - MDSU TWO, ITC (DSW/SW/MDV) Dave Gove - MDSU ONE, BMC(DSW/SW/MDV) Kevin Jones - SDV TeamONE, BUC (SCW/MDV) Eric Eaton - UCT2, Port Hueneme, EMC (DSW/MDV) VernMalone - DSU, San Diego, and ENC(DSW/MDV) William Rubow - SIMA, VA.

I would also like to congratulate ourfirst Diving Chief Warrant Officer 5,CWO5 Terry Harris.

Dive Manual

We are currently working on anupdate to the Dive Manual. We havenumerous changes, corrections, and pro-posed changes that we are working onnow. We hope to de-conflict some of theinformation in the various chapters aswell as bring the manual up-to-date.If you have any input, please passit on by e-mail to MDV Fred Orns([email protected]) or MDV SteveSmith ([email protected]) at 00C.

Preliminary Contaminated Water DivingManual

Expect to see the Contaminated Wa-ter Diving Manual available on the 00Cwebsite as we release this FACEPLATE.00C3 will also be sending out a few copiesto dive lockers for comment and review.This is a hot topic and way past due forgetting the attention it needs. This manualwill be the first step in getting guidance tothe Fleet on diving in contaminated water.It is our intention to issue this manual aspreliminary guidance and request fleetuser feedback. After about six months, wewill then review and reissue an updated

manual as our first contaminated waterdiving manual. Additional appendices willfollow as more research and studies arecompleted in this area. The guidance inthe Contaminated Water Diving Manualwas put together by NEDU, after exhaus-tive research into the civilian diving indus-try, government agencies, and foreignmilitary Divers as to what are the bestpractices and diving equipment available.We will continue to work in this area withNEDU, industry, and our allies to be betterprepared to handle contaminated watersituations.

Divers Survey from the Center of EODand Diving

The EOD and Diver surveys are outon SKILLSNET. We need 100% par-ticipation from every EOD Tech and Diverin the fleet. You have/will receive word thatit is time to take this survey from manysources (NKO, messages traffic, e-mails,etc) and how to take the survey. Thissurvey has a large and immediate impacton the future of our communities. For thatreason, take whatever steps are requiredto get your people to complete this surveyNOW. Do not wait. Please pass to allDivers in our communities. The Center ofEOD and Diving is working to chart thefuture for EOD and Fleet Divers of thefuture. Give this effort 100% support.

Working Divers Conference 2004 is scheduled for 29 March - 2 April at theExpeditionary Warfare Training Group in Little Creek, VA. We are soliciting pointpapers for the up-coming conference and you are encouraged to submit papers tothe SUPSALV website (http://www.supsalv.org) via your Chain of Command.

On another note, there will soon be a recruitment page for Fleet Divers on theofficial USN web page at http://www.navy.mil. Please e-mail any suggestions forimprovement of this page. Finally, if you liked the diver picture presentation screenedat the beginning of the conference and would like a copy, simply e-mail MDV SteveSmith with your mailing address at [email protected].

in this issue - naval sea systems command · became more urgent, bomb shelters filled up more...

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