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

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response
Figure 5-12. SUPSALV crew maintaining the proper attitude while cleaning
debris from the belt of the Class XI skimmer while deployed on OSV RENE
(11 June 2010)
Handling the pumps, both Lamor weir and Minimax type proved to be difficult on the vessels that
were not equipped with cranes. The crews had to become creative in order to lift these heavy
items outboard the hull and into the VOSS pockets. Figure 5-13 shows outrigger assembly
outfitted with a block and tackle to service the weir pump. On 6 June, in order to improve
operations onboard OSV VANGUARD, two knuckle cranes were procured and installed both port
and starboard. A set of these cranes were previously installed on JOHN COGHILL. As a result,
cranes (vice outrigger booms) were used to lift skimmer systems from Current Buster pockets
improving oil transfer and debris clearance efficiency. The use of these cranes proved to be such
a success that as a post operation lessons learned, a knuckle crane has been incorporated into
the High Speed Current Buster outfitting package.
5-13