With pollution being the USCG's primary concern, MSO Jacksonville contracted Titan Maritime, LLC to perform a dive survey of the vessel. The purpose of the survey was to assess the condition of the vessel, the quantity of hydrocarbons present and determine possible courses of action to eliminate the threat of pollution.

The survey determined there were no visible cracks, fractures or other type of hull breaching in way of shell plating exposed above the mud line. The presence of loose residual oil throughout the machinery spaces and other compartments below the main deck rendered the entire vessel as a single source of pollution.

Titan was awarded the Pollution Mitigation/Vessel Removal Project and quickly mobilized a salvage team and equipment to perform the operation.

The plan that developed was one which would remove the source of pollution and recover the vessel in one lift.

Fortunately, one of Titan's Salvage/Wreck Removal Jack-up barges, the Karlissa-A , was sitting on station in Tampa, Florida.

Having experienced great successes with their hydraulic linear chain pullers in different type operations, Titan came up with a plan to mount two 300-ton capacity 'Titan Pullers' on the deck of the Karlissa-A , with two horizontal traveling chain roller assemblies (resembling anchor windless 'wild cats') affixed to her bow.

The two independent pulling systems operate by hydraulically pulling runs of 3in (76mm) high strength anchor chain. The pulling ends of the chain were attached to lifting slings that were positioned under the wreck at each end. Utilising the hydraulic power of both the pulling devices and the barge's jack-up system, the Bowstring was lifted off the bottom and raised just above her waterline.

With the Bowstring's decks raised to the water line, the Titan salvage team began dewatering the wreck using submersible pumps. The team stabilised and secured the vessel and completed the removal of all pollutants.

Performing this lift marked the first time 'Titan Pullers' have been used from a single vessel to perform a vertical salvage lift.

MJ Information No: 19024