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

2. 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)

3. ESSM Gear in action

4. 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

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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. Logistics – Getting to the site

10. 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

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

12. 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)

13. Response Vessel - Barge Fels 20 loaded with ESSM salvage and oil recovery gear
6 ea 4-man bunk vans ea Office/Rec van 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

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

15. Installing the 6-point moor

16. 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 (total on-scene – 156)

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

18. Underwater Operations

19. Pumps

20. Pumping Operations

21. 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