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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA Roles in Response to Sunken and Derelict Vessels Doug Helton. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Ocean Service Office of Response and Restoration. Presentation Summary. NOAA Roles and Concerns Threats from Wrecks NOAA Databases Response to Threats

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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  1. NOAA Roles in Response to Sunken and Derelict Vessels Doug Helton National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Ocean Service Office of Response and Restoration

  2. Presentation Summary • NOAA Roles and Concerns • Threats from Wrecks • NOAA Databases • Response to Threats • Wrecks vs. abandoned vessels

  3. Terminology • Salvage • When a vessel or cargo has residual value. • Removal incentive • Wreck Removal • When vessel or debris has no significant value. • Contract removal • Abandonment

  4. NOAA interests in shipwrecks • National Marine Sanctuary Program • Office of Coast Survey • Office of Ocean Exploration • Office of Response and Restoration

  5. Threats from wrecks • Oil pollution and Hazardous Cargoes • Smothering from vessel/debris • Chronic source of debris • Navigational obstruction • Trawl and navigation obstruction • Physical destruction of habitats • Illegal dump sites • Nutrient enrichment • Entrapment and Safety Hazard

  6. Oil Pollution from Wrecks

  7. Hurricane Katrina Salvage and Wreck Removal, 2005

  8. 1944: the M/V Empire Knight ran aground on Boon Island Ledge, ME. The vessel was carrying a mixed cargo, including mercury 1987: The Pac Baroness sank off Pt Conception, CA. The vessel was carrying 280,000 gallons of fuel and 21,000 tons of powdered copper Hazardous Cargo:

  9. Threats to Navigation

  10. Habitat Threats

  11. M/V Clipper Lasco Grounding, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 2006

  12. Wildlife Entrapment • F/V Paradise Queen, Kure Atoll, NWHI • Entrapment of endangered monk seals

  13. Human Health and Safety

  14. Public Safety

  15. F/V Van Loi, Kauai Oil, debris, and fishing gear spread along hotel beach Visual eyesore and loss of tourism

  16. Source of Marine Debris

  17. Vessels can be a significant source of marine debris and in some situations can become debris themselves

  18. Vessel debris following Hurricane Katrina

  19. Empire, Louisiana

  20. Samala Photos • As vessel deteriorate, they become a source of debris

  21. Illegal Dump Sites • M/V Kimton, Fajardo, Puerto Rico • Vessel used for illegal dumping of waste oils and explosives • Abandoned Barge, Louisiana. Potential dumping site

  22. NOAA Databases • Abandoned Vessels (primarily affecting corals) • Automated Wrecks and Obstructions Information System (Navigation hazards) • Resources and Undersea Threats (historic and pollution)

  23. Abandoned Smuggling Vessel, Guam, 2008

  24. AWOIS • NOAA Coast Survey • Automated Wrecks and Obstructions Information System

  25. Resources and Undersea Threats (RUST)NOAA Marine Sanctuaries Program

  26. Historic Wrecks • 1953: The 468-foot freighter SS Jacob Luckenbach near entrance to Golden Gate, CA. Recent response efforts removed 85,000 gallons of bunker fuel. • 1941: The 440-foot tanker Montebello off the coast of San Luis Obispo, CA. The Montebello was carrying more than 75,000 barrels of crude oil

  27. US Navy Sub S-5. Cape May NJ. 1920 Courtesy of the US Navy

  28. Tanker “Bow Mariner” Offshore Virginia

  29. Not all targets are vessels

  30. Response to Underwater Legacy Environmental Threats (RULET) Oil slick from the leak of Navy Special Fuel Oil from Mississinewa in Ulithi Lagoon. Photograph courtesy of NOAA

  31. Chehalis case history

  32. USS Chehalis: Background • 311-foot US Navy Patapsco Class Gasoline Tanker • Commissioned December, 1944 • Exploded and burned on October 7, 1949, while off-loading gasoline at Pago Pago Harbor on Tutuila Island. • 6 lives lost. Burned for 22 hours • Scuttled in 160 feet of water on October 8 near fuel terminal • Aviation and automotive gasoline cargo, diesel bunkers • 115,000 + gallons • 18,000 rounds of ammunition

  33. Challenges • Assessing and prioritizing wrecks • Establishing an effective response organization • Developing and implementing appropriate technical solutions • Environmental and historic compliance • Funding

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