U.S. Navy Salvage Report Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
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Downloaded from http://www.everyspec.com S0800-AC-RPT-010 0910-LP-105-8672 U.S. NAVY SALVAGE REPORT HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: This document has been approved for public release and sale; its distribution is unlimited. Published by direction of Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command JANUARY 2007 Downloaded from http://www.everyspec.com Prepared by ROH Incorporated under contract with Naval Sea Systems Command Visit Our Web Site at www.roh-inc.com Downloaded from http://www.everyspec.com Foreword No natural disaster in U.S. history created a marine salvage effort the size and scope that existed in the aftermath of Hurricanes KATRINA and RITA. Approximately 500 miles of coastline in four different states Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas incurred the wrath of these two storms which left over 3,000 commercial vessels sunken, stranded, or fully aground as the storms’ floodwaters receded. Thankfully, only a few of these casualties were deep-draft vessels, and their owners removed them almost immediately with little damage. The remaining thousands included commercial barges and fishing or shrimping vessels, many with displacements over 100 tons. Previous U.S. hurricanes like CAMILLE, ANDREW and HUGO caused wide-spread devastation and, in their aftermath, various U.S. Navy Salvage commands played a role in the clean-up and restoration process. KATRINA and RITA created an unprecedented demand for the combined efforts of Ships, Mobile Diving and Salvage Units and SUPSALV from 29 August 2005 through 31 January 2006. Working in support of FEMA, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, SUPSALV, and a team of local salvage contractors led by Donjon Marine, Detachments from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two, and the USS GRAPPLE (ARS 53) teamed to provide hydrographic survey of miles of critical waterways and clearance of hundreds of vessels and thousands of tons of debris, ensuring safe navigation to vital port facilities from Port Arthur, Texas to Mobile Bay, Alabama. This report cannot properly capture the human spirit, enthusiasm, and sacrifice of the individuals that constituted this great Salvage Team. Their undaunted endurance and unflinching commitment to doing whatever could be done toward the restoration of the devastated Gulf Region was an inspiration to all involved. Richard Hooper Captain, USN Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving i/ii blank Downloaded from http://www.everyspec.com Table of Contents Section 1 - Introduction and Background........................................... 1-1 1.1. Hurricane Damage Details .............................................................. 1-1 1.2. Purpose of Report .......................................................................... 1-3 1.3. SUPSALV Tasking and Scope of Mission ........................................... 1-3 1.4. Operational Considerations ............................................................. 1-4 1.5. Overview of Operations .................................................................. 1-5 1.5.1. Immediate Tasks ...................................................................... 1-5 1.5.2. Long Term Task ....................................................................... 1-6 Section 2 - Command and Organization ............................................. 2-1 2.1. National Response ......................................................................... 2-1 2.2. Origins of Debris Removal Tasking .................................................. 2-2 2.2.1. Federal Players......................................................................... 2-2 2.2.2. SUPSALV Organization .............................................................. 2-3 Section 3 - Tasking and Funding......................................................... 3-1 3.1. U.S. Navy and SUPSALV Missions .................................................... 3-1 3.2. SUPSALV Initial Tasking – Immediate Response ............................... 3-2 3.3. SUPSALV Support to the Joint Task Force ........................................ 3-3 3.3.1. Responsibility ........................................................................... 3-3 3.4 Tasking ......................................................................................... 3-4 3.4.1. Emergency Support Function (ESF)–3 Authorization .................... 3-5 3.4.2. Assignment for Removal Under USCG ESF–3............................... 3-5 3.4.3. USCG ESF–3 Removal Execution ................................................ 3-6 3.4.4. USCG ESF-10 Tasking ............................................................... 3-8 3.4.5. USACE – New Orleans District/Mississippi Valley Division Tasking.. 3-8 3.4.6. USACE – Mobile Bay District/South Atlantic Division Tasking......... 3-9 3.5. Funding......................................................................................... 3-9 3.5.1. Funding Sources....................................................................... 3-9 3.5.2. Funding Summary ...................................................................3-11 3.5.3. Funding Issues ........................................................................3-11 3.6. Cost Accounting ............................................................................3-12 Section 4 - Mobilization ...................................................................... 4-1 4.1. SUPSALV Mobilization ..................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1. American Salvage Association .................................................... 4-1 4.1.2. Donjon .................................................................................... 4-2 4.1.3. GPC Mobilization....................................................................... 4-4 4.1.4. Phoenix Mobilization ................................................................. 4-6 4.1.5. Transportation Issues ............................................................... 4-6 Section 5 - Operations ........................................................................ 5-1 i Downloaded from http://www.everyspec.com 5.1. First Response – Navy Participation in Task Force Katrina.................. 5-1 5.1.1. Navy Combined Task Force Katrina Operations ........................... 5-1 5.1.2. Contaminated Water Diving ....................................................... 5-4 5.1.3. Hydrographic Survey................................................................. 5-4 5.2. Long Term Salvage Task ................................................................ 5-7 5.2.1. Louisiana ................................................................................. 5-7 5.2.2. Wreck Identification.................................................................. 5-7 5.2.3. Follow-on Survey...................................................................... 5-9 5.2.4. Database – Marine Debris Targets.............................................5-12 5.2.5. Debris Removal Operation ........................................................5-15 5.2.6. Mississippi...............................................................................5-26 5.2.7. Alabama .................................................................................5-28 5.2.8. Texas .....................................................................................5-30 Section 6 - Conclusion ........................................................................ 6-1 6.1. Wrapping Things Up....................................................................... 6-1 6.2. Exit Strategy.................................................................................. 6-2 6.3. Execution ...................................................................................... 6-3 6.4. Demobilization ............................................................................... 6-5 6.5. Accomplishments ........................................................................... 6-5 Section 7 - Lessons Learned ............................................................... 7-1 Appendix A - Command and Organization Documents Appendix B - Mobilization Documents Appendix C - Tasking and Funding Documents Appendix D - Operations Documents Appendix E - Conclusion Documents Appendix F - Final Report Hurricane Katrina Pollution Support Baton Rouge and Venice, Louisiana ii Downloaded from http://www.everyspec.com Section 1 Introduction and Background Downloaded from http://www.everyspec.com Section 1 Introduction and Background 1.1. Hurricane Damage Details On the morning of Monday, 29 August 2005, Hurricane Katrina came ashore on the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama Gulf Coast with winds of approximately 130 mph. Katrina had previously reached Category 5 strength but was downgraded to a Category 3 storm right before landfall based on maximum wind speed. The storm surge that hit the coast was extensive and more typical of a Category 5 hurricane. It damaged a nearly 500-mile wide section of the Gulf Coast from the Texas/Louisiana border to the Florida panhandle. Unprecedented damage occurred in Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast communities and Louisiana coastal areas, especially the low-lying areas south of New Orleans. Figure 1-1 is a Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-12 visible image of Hurricane Katrina one day before the eye made landfall. Figure 1-1. August 28, 2005 Satellite Image of Hurricane Katrina. Katrina’s effect on the Gulf Coast was unusual as well. A typical hurricane comes ashore, causes damage and