Description of document: US Navy Salvage Report: Suez Canal Salvage Operations in 1974 Requested date: 20-December-2007 Released date: 17-December-2008 Posted date: 05-May-2009 Title of document Suez Canal Salvage Operations in 1974 Source of document: Department of the Navy Naval Sea Systems Command [email protected] The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. The public records published on the site were obtained from government agencies using proper legal channels. Each document is identified as to the source. Any concerns about the contents of the site should be directed to the agency originating the document in question. GovernmentAttic.org is not responsible for the contents of documents published on the website. FOREWORD On 5 June 1975 the Suez C anal will again be open to the ships of the world for the first time since its closure during the 1967 Six-Day War, when ten ships were scuttled by Egyptian forces to close this important waterway to ocean going shipping. From 11 April to 20 December 1974, U. S. forces, in cooperation with British, French, and Egyptian forces, conducted concurrent operations to clear the Canal of wrecks, mines, and ordnance. The 1974 Suez Canal salvage operations are classic with respect to the equipment and techniques used to remove the sunken ships from the shallow waters of the Canal. In addition to the obvious historical value of documenting the successful removal of the sunken ships, it is important to describe in some technical de~ail the application of sal­ vage equipment and techniques to the Suez Canal problem as an aid to future salvors. The Suez Canal salvage operations were conducted under the direction of Captain J. H. Boyd, USN, Supervisor of Salvage, U. S. Navy, using the resources of the Murphy Pacific Marine Salvage Com­ pany. For his outstanding leadership and management of this difficult and highly sensitive effort of national significance, Captain Boyd was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Pre pared by Booz, Allen & Hamilton Inc., and Sea Salvage, Inc., under the direction of Captain Boyd, this report should prove valuable to salvors throughout the world who are faced with the task of removing sunken ships from shallow waters. ~ .. t7 R. C. Gooding Vice Admiral, USN Commander Naval Sea Systems Command ABSTRACT The Suez Canal was closed in 1967 by the Egyptian government. The ships that were used to block the Canal remained there until 1974 when an international operation was mounted to clear the Canal, and transform it back into a major world trade route. A major component of this total project was an operation to remove 10 large wrecks from the Canal. The Supervisor of Salvage, U. S. Navy, using the resources of the salvage contractor, Murphy Pacific Marine Salvage Company, completed this operation in a 7-month period in 1974. This report de­ scribes what happened. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number 1. INTRODUCTION I-I 1. Involvement of the U. S. Navy in the Clearance 1-2 2. Overview of the Total Canal Operation 1-3 3. Organization of the Report 1-10 II. THE TEN WRECKS IN THE CANAL II-I 1. Northern Zone Wrecks: ISMAILIA and MECCA II-I 2. Central Zone Wrecks: DREDGE 23, MONGUED, KASSER, Concrete Caisson, and 15 SEPTEMBER II-5 3. Southern Zone Wrecks: MAGD, DREDGE 22, and BARREH II-8 III. ORGANIZATION AND FACILITIES FOR CLEARANCE III-I 1. Personnel, Facilities, and Equipment III-I 2. Logistics Support III-5 3. Salvage Environment III-12 IV. THE SALVAGE SURVEY IV-l 1. Salvage Survey Schedule and Procedures IV-l 2. Salvage Survey Results IV-3 -i- Page Number V. SALVAGE OPERATIONS IN THE NORTHERN ZONE V-I 1. Salvage Plans for ISMAILIA and MECCA V-I 2. Salvage Operations on ISMAILIA V-I5 3. Salvage Operations on MECCA V-23 4. Summary V-46 VI. SALVAGE OPERATIONS IN THE CENTRAL ZONE VI-l 1. Salvage Plans VI-3 2. Salvage Operations on DREDGE 23, KASSER, and MONGUED VI-4 3. Salvage Operations on Dredge 15 SEPTEMBER VI-27 4. Salvage Operations on the Concrete Caisson VI-38 5. Summary VI-52 VII. SALVAGE OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN ZONE VII-l 1. Salvage Plans VII-2 2. Salvage Operations on DREDGE 22 and BARREH VII-4 3. Salvage Operations on MAGD VII-15 4. Summary VII-28 VIII. LESSONS LEARNED VIII-l 1. Diving Depths VIII-l 2. Personnel Turnover VIII-l 3. Flexibility in Use of Assets VIII-l 4. Dependence on Indigenous Support VIII-2 5. Employment of Heavy-Lift Craft, CRILLEY and CRANDALL VIII-2 6. Employment of Sheer Leg Cranes, THOR and ROLAND VIII-2 7. Rigging of Crane Lifts VIII-3 8. Explosive Cutting Techniques VIII-3 9. Safety VIII-3 -11- APPENDICES A. SUEZ CANAL CLEARANCE AGREEMENT B. SUEZ CANAL SALVAGE AGREEMENT C. CHRONOLOGY OF SALVAGE EVENTS D. TYPICAL MANNING REQUIREMENTS E. PRINCIPAL U. S. GOVERNMENT AND CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL F. OPERATION OF HEAVY-LIFT CRAFT CRILLEY AND CRANDALL G. CHARACTERISTICS OF THOR AND ROLAND H. EQUIPMENT DETAILS I. TYPICAL TIDE TABLE FOR SOUTHERN END OF SUEZ CANAL J. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CUT 2 ON ISMAILIA K. EXPLOSIVE CUTTING L. RIGHTING OF DREDGE 23 -iii- INDEX OF FIGURES j ,)1 Page Number I" I-I Schedule. 25 August 1974 .1 1-7 I 1-2 Salvage Events Showing Actual Sequence 1-8 1 1-3 Employment of Heavy-Lift Craft CRANDALL and CRILLEY. and Heavy-Lift Cranes THOR and ROLAND 1-9 II-I Locations of Wrecks in Suez Canal II-2 II-2 Wreck Dumping Areas II-3 ~ II-3 MECCA Shortly After Sinking in 1967 II-4 U-4 DREDGE 23 Prior to Sinking in 1967 II-6 II-5 KASSER Prior to Sinking in 1967 II-7 II-6 Dredge 15 SEPTEMBER Prior to Sinking in 1967 U-9 III-I Suez Canal Salvage Organizational Relationships III-3 III-2 SCA Regional Headquarters III-6 ! IlI-3 I SCA Headquarters on Banks of Lake Timsah at Ismailia UI-7 III-4 Southern Entrance to Canal Showing Characteristic Port Taufiq Devastation III-9 UI-5 Earthen Causeway Blocking Canal at Deversoir Station UI-14 -v- Page Number III-6 Al Firdan Bridge South of Port Said III-16 m-7 Typical Pontoon Bridge Across Canal III-17 III-8 Suez Canal at Southern End of Lake Timsah III-19 III-9 Typical Section of Canal at Southern End III-20 - IV-l Location of ISMAILIA in Canal IV-6 IV-2 Condition of ISMAILIA at Survey IV-7 IV-3 Location of MECCA in Canal IV-9 IV-4 Location of DREDGE 23 in Canal IV-I0 IV-5 Condition of DREDGE 23 at Survey IV-12 IV-6 Midship Section of DREDGE 23 at Survey IV-13 IV-7 Location of Dredge KASSER and Tug MONGUED in Canal IV-13 IV-8 Dredge KASSER at Beginning of Survey IV-14 IV-9 Condition of Dredge KASSER at Survey IV-15 IV-I0 Condition of Dredge KASSER at Survey, Front View IV-16 IV-ll Condition of Tug MONGUED at Survey IV-18 IV-12 Location of Concrete Caisson in Canal IV-19 IV-13 Condition of Concrete Caisson at Survey IV-20 IV-14 Location of Dredge 15 SEPTEMBER in Canal IV-21 IV-15 Condition of Dredge 15 SEPTEMBER at Survey IV-23 -vi- Page Number IV-16 Location of Tanker MAGD in Canal IV-25 IV-17 Condition of Tanker MAGD at Survey IV-26 IV-18 Location of DREDGE 22 and Tug BARREH in Canal IV-27 IV-19 Condition of DREDGE 22 at Survey IV-28 IV-20 Condition of Tug BARREH at Survey IV-30 I V-I MECCA Tankage Plans: Deep Tanks and Double Bottom Tanks V-5 V-2 MECCA Tankage Plans: Tank Tops V-5 V-3 Sectioning Plan for ISMAILIA V-7 V-4 Typical Cut Sections of MECCA V-9 V-5 Sectioning Plan for MECCA V-10 V-6 Superstructure Sectioning Plan for MECCA V-11 V-7 Typical Charge for Shearing Plate V-12 V-8 Typical Lift Arrangements on ISMAILIA V-18 ~ V-9 Lift of ISMAILIA Bow Section V-20 V-10 ISMAILIA Bow Section in Dump Area V-21 V-ll ISMAILIA Sections in Dump Area Near Port Said V-22 V-12 MECCA at Commencement of Salvage Operations V-24 f V-13 Oil Removal Pumping Amidships in MECCA V-26 V-14 Hot-Tap Spool in Way of Midship Tanks on MECCA V-27 -vii- .,........ I Page Number V-15 Above-Water Cutting Operations On MECCA by SCA Burners V-28 V-16 Detonation of Underwater Explosive Cut on MECCA's Superstructure V-29 V-17 Typical Cut Made Early in MECCA Operation V-30 V-18 A Section of MECCA's Superstructure Suspended Over Barge by SCA 80-Ton Crane Under Tow to Dump Area V-31 V-19 A Section of MECCA's Superstructure in Way of Engine Room Uptakes V-32 V-20 Typical Rigging for Lift of MECCA Hull Section V-38 V-21 Lift of MECCA Stern Section V-40 V-22 stern Section of MECCA in Dry-Dump Area V-41 V-23 ROLAND Rigging for Lift of Sections 9 and 10, THOR Rigged for Lift of Section 2 V-42 V-24 THOR Lifting Section 2 of MECCA V-43 V-25 Section 4 of ISMAILIA and Section 3 of MECCA V-44 VI-1 KASSER's Turntable Machinery After Lift to Canal Bank VI-5 VI-2 Lift Craft Crew Pinning Down for Lift VI-9 VI-3 Arrangement of Craft After First Lift of MONGUED VI-10 VI-4 MONGUED in Transit to Lake Timsah VI-ll VI-5 MONGUED After Grounding in Lake Timsah VI-ll -viii- L Page Number VI-6 Tug MONGUED Slung Between CRANDALL and CRILLEY Under Tow to Great Bitter Lake VI-13 VI-7 MONGUED Nest Approfl~;llng Deversoir Causeway VI-15 VI-8 MONGUED Grounded in Great Bitter Lake Prior to Last Lift