USS MISSISSINEWA (AO 59) Oil Offloading Operations Ulithi Atoll, FSM February 2003

NAVSEA SUPSALV Mission Responsible for technical support to Fleet in areas of: Marine Salvage Diving Underwater Search & Recovery Offshore Oil Spill Response Underwater Ship Husbandry Maintains salvage contracts to augment Fleet capability Maintains ESSM System (pre-positioned emergency ship salvage and pollution response material)

ESSM Gear in action

Sinking of the Mississinewa November 20, 1944 63 U.S. personnel lost 3,780,000 gallons of oil on board at sinking Sunk in 130 feet

USS Mississinewa at Ulithi Atoll Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia Ulithi Atoll

Recent History Wreck located April 2001 Oil reported leaking, August 2001 YAP, FSM & USCG / NOAA Survey First Navy Response – Patch & Pump (Aug 2001) Second Leak & Response (Dec-Jan 2001)

Need for Additional Response (Offloading) Risk of Continued Intermittent Oil Leaks Risk of Future Catastrophic Oil Release Wreck’s 22 tanks contained estimated 2.8 M gallons of oil Proximity to Pristine Subsistence Fishing Grounds Sea Turtles, Marine Birds, Intertidal and Subtidal Habitats

Offloading Plan Oil Removal - Through the hull – “Hot Tap” Equipment Surface-supplied (air) Diving Proven Tools and Equipment Aggressive Search for Oil Personnel Safety Environmental Safety Hot Tap System

Logistics – Getting to the site

Operational Criteria Independent vessel-based operation (no facilities ashore) Need to remain on-station until completion Minimize pollution risk Remove all pumpable oil in accessible tanks Proper disposal of oil and all wastes

Pumping Arrangement – Option One “Donut Pump” Sampling & Monitoring Station Manifold Hot Tap Valves

Resources Vessels USS Salvor (ARS 52) – Navy diving support platform Primary support barge & tug Additional barge and tug Personnel – Salvor, MDSU, EODMU, SUPSALV & contractors Equipment - supplied by ESSM (hot taps, pumps, etc.) Diving - surface-supplied; recompression chamber; communications (Salvor, MDSU, & EOD MU 5) Pollution response equipment (ESSM)

Response Vessel - Barge Fels 20 loaded with ESSM salvage and oil recovery gear 6 ea 4-man bunk vans - 1 ea Office/Rec van - 3 ESSM vans (Cleaning/Decon, POL Pumping, POL hose) 2 (blue) Singapore ESSM equpt vans (1 ea 400 amp welder, 3 ea 125 cfm compressors, 2 clyde winches, 3 ea 30kw generators, 2 light towers & light kits, 2 ea beach gear ground tackle, extra crown buoys 1 Singapore ESSM van w/ 4 ea 10’x50’ fenders 3 ESSM vans (Debris boat, Salvage Skim van, POL Support (Hot Taps, etc.) 2 Canvas-covered trash vans (not yet loaded here) w/ other Singapore ESSM gear 3 twin drum mooring Winches - 2 Marine Sanitation Devices w/ plumbing On Salvor – Shop Van, Cleaning Van, 24’ RHIB, 23’ Zodiac, 2 ea 6,000# Stato Anchors

Oil Spill Mitigation Spill Response Plan Containment Oil Recovery Dispersant Plan Wildlife Plan Storage & Disposal V-Boom Skimming System Dispersant Spray System Dispersant Package

Installing the 6-point moor

Vessels Operational Configuration CO reports Salvor complement: 13 MDSU, 2 EOD Guam, 92 Salvor – total 107 mustered. SUPSALV – 1 SUPSALV Rep, 1 Yap Rep, 15 GPC, 20 Rover/Fels20, 12 Marlin – total 49 (total on-scene – 156)

Diver training to use Hot-Tap pumping system - Honolulu Divers topside – Ulithi during operation

Underwater Operations

Pumps

Pumping Operations

Operational Summary Installed 20 Hot Taps & Secured with Caps after Pumping Cut Access into Two Tanks for Internal Tank Access (& Secured) Removed All Accessible Oil from 21 Tanks, Engine Room, Pump Room, and Previously-Leaking Piping Transferred Approximately 1.95 Million Gallons of Oil from Mississinewa to Barge, including approximately 7% Free Water Successfully completed ahead of schedule Est. less than 5 gallons of Oil Released – No Environmental Impact Mississinewa Oil to be Sold in Singapore and Recycled