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

Chapter 2: Command and Organization
2-2.4 Politics
Elected officials from local county and state organizations attempted to obtain and control
resources. These local organizations served as “response managers” for their jurisdiction. They
were ostensibly part of the ICS but exhibited considerable influence and independence in the
allocation and control of OSR teams and equipment, including those of SUPSALV. Examples of
this competition for assets and independent resource assignments were the “Skunkworks”, the
self-named State-operated pollution response team answerable to the State of Alabama only.
This organization requested and received SUPSALV booming teams to protect the entrance to
Mobile Bay. In their enthusiasm to protect the bay, they deployed the boom in a fashion that did
not account for the significant tidal currents, the boom was ultimately damaged beyond repair as
a result. Another example of an independent response manager influencing the system was the
response team from St. Tammany Parish which requested, obtained, and kept SUPSALV
MARCO skimming assets in the Slidell, LA area for the duration of the spill even though oil never
made it to the Parish waters.
2-2.5 Obtaining Critical Resources
SUPSALV was dependent on the Area Command (OSVs) and Incident Commanders (smaller
VOOs and barges) for obtaining assets to support their assigned mission. SUPSALV’s OSR
equipment is highly specialized but dependent on vessels of opportunity for supporting their
deployment. The vessels of opportunity included capable OSVs for offshore high speed
skimming, OSVs for laying oil containment boom, and an OSV for assisting in maintenance of
the MARCO Class V Skimmers. Smaller boats were needed to work with the near-shore
MARCO Class V skimmers. Shore and barge-based cranes were used for management of the
boats in port, and jack-up and spud barges were used to facilitate off-shore use of the MARCO
Class V skimmers. Generally, when resources were required, they were identified and made
available. There was a vetting / learning process associated with the provisioning process
though. For example, for smaller boats to support MARCO Class V skimmers, initially outboard
powered runabouts were provided, then cabin cruiser type vessels, then, eventually, commercial
shrimpers that were suitable for the task were assigned. Because there were conflicting and
competing requests for these same resources, SUPSALV requests were subject to ICS
prioritizations.
2-2.6 Requests for Information
Numerous (often 3 or 4 times daily) requests for information within the Navy left some staff
working a greater portion of their time providing tailored responses and less time managing their
tasks. An example was a 4 May request for information to be used in to prepare Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense Whelan in his testimony before Congress. Three simple
questions were asked, but the questions, as they were processed and forwarded through the
OSD Policy Crisis Center and OPNAV Navy Crisis Action Team THREE Resource Situation
Awareness Center (RSAC) Pentagon, to 00C Deputy, Michael Dean, to 00C Admiralty Attorney,
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