Deep Water Recovery Operations

 

9 March 2005 Aberdeen Evening Meeting

Chairman Martin Richmond, Mariteam Ltd 

Sponsored by Century Subsea and Sonsub

 

Report by Robert Manson

 

Presentations

An Overview of the Recovery Operations of the Ehime Maru

Alex Fleming, Survey Manager, Century Subsea

On the 9 February 2001, the Ehime Maru, a Japanese fishing training vessel, sank following a collision with the US Navy submarine Greeneveille. Nine crewmembers were lost in the accident, which occurred off the coast of Oahu in 2000 feet. The US Navy mounted a $60 million recovery operation to first raise and transfer the vessel to diving depth of 115 feet to recover the victims' remains; and subsequently tow the Ehime Maru to a final memorial site in 6000 feet. Century Subsea was involved in the first phase of the recovery operation from 2000 feet. The survey scope called for the acoustic positioning of the ROVs and complex jetting and lifting systems used in this initial raising of the vessel. The presentation provided an overview of the project and some of the technical issues involved in the salvage operation. 

 

The Prestige Project—Recovering Crude Oil from Wreck in 4000 Metres

John Ewen, Project Manager, Sonsub Ltd

The wreck of the Prestige oil tanker resulted in one of the worst natural disasters occurring in Spain's recent history. The oil tanker, carrying 77000 Tm of fuel oil, was affected by a storm near the northwestern coast of Spain. After some days of uncontrolled sailing, the ship broke in two and sank in some 4000 metres. Repsol YPF, though in no way connected to the vessel or its cargo, was appointed by the Spanish government to recover the fuel remaining inside the wreck. Subsequently, Repsol YPF selected Sonsub to be the main contractor. Due to the urgent need to extract the remaining fuel and avoid further environmental damage, Repsol YPF and Sonsub were obliged to design to design and develop a group of innovative tools, which allowed the operation at such depths within a very short timeframe. This presentation described the operation from the initial preparation, through preliminary studies and and trials to the final extraction of oil from the tanker.

 

The Salvage of SS Persia in Approximately 3000-Metre Water Depth

Moya Crawford, Deep Tek Ltd

The SS Persia was sunk by a German U-boat on the 30 December 1915 and came to rest in the Hellenic Trench System. In mounting an unprecedented salvage operation to recover the gold, diamonds, silver and jewels known to be onboard, Pere UK Ltd using Deep Tek's patented Winder System and manmade fibre rope, first located the wreck, precisely cut through and excavated 5 deck levels, to reach their salvage goal.

 

5 Minute Technology Bite

Advances in Diamond Cutting Technology for Decommissioning

Eddie Grant, CUT Ltd

CUT are a specialist cutting technology company based in Aberdeen that have developed technologies to make the operation of cutting structures and conductors under the mud-line more cost effective with improved safety. This presentation gave an insight into CUT's work and where this is leading to.