U.S. NAVY SALVAGE REPORT DEEPWATER HORIZON ... - ESSM

Final Report, SONS Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico, 27 April — 24 September 2010
The total SUPSALV Oil Containment Boom in GOMEX was 98,000′ with 38,000′ of boom
deployed. Eighteen Class V Vessel Skimmers with crews were positioned at the USCG
designated locations.
Five Class V Skimmers, positioned on board four spud/jack-up barges off Mobile, did not get
underway again due to the weather. Two Class V Skimmers from Port Fourchon were loaded on
the Pecos barge to conduct skimming operations in Mobile Bay. Three bladder offloading
systems and trainers were sent to Bayou La Batre to be taken offshore to support bladder
offloading operations of task forces 1, 2, and 3 on barges in Mobile.
OSV Wes Bordelon was underway with 4400′ of USS-42″ Oil Containment Boom at East Bay
but could not deploy boom due to the weather.
SUPSALV personnel onshore in Grand Isle continued to support near-shore recovery operations.
Two Class V Skimmers, both in “free skimming mode”, were on standby near the shore. Two
Class V Skimmers and the shore based operations encountered oil. See Figure 16.
Figure 16. Crude Oil Rolling off Skimmer Belt
OSV MV John Coghill, with two Current Buster VOSS, was at the oil site conducting skimming
operations, but rough weather was encountered. OSV AHTS Vanguard was inbound to Gulfport
to have knuckle cranes installed to lift Weir Skimmers from High Speed Current Buster pockets
as had been accomplished on the OSV MV John Coghill. This had greatly accelerated debris
clearance and maintenance.
OSV MV Renee was pierside in Gulfport with the Class XI Skimmer System installation
completed. Testing and training were conducted. OSV MV Renee was to get underway midday
Saturday to refuel in Theodore then proceed to sea.
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