Arctic Directory: Global Diving & Salvage Inc. recovers sunken fender

Global Diving & Salvage Inc. said Nov. 20 that in early March of 2012 the north fender on the Christy Lee oil platform, owned and operated by Hilcorp, experienced mechanical failure which caused it to plunge into approximately 80 feet of water in Cook Inlet. The fender structure mechanically raised and lowered with the tide to keep visiting tankers properly fended during calls. The timeline for a prompt solution was critical, as delaying the arrival of tankers to the Christy Lee would subsequently result in substantial monetary loss.

Global, using sonar equipment to determine the exact location of the damaged fender concluded that there was sufficient water depth above the fender to allow the vessels to continue to call at the berth; however a temporary system would need to be devised in order to keep the platform operational.

Global developed a plan to install a temporary fender, successfully mobilized, fabricated and installed the temporary fender system in just over two weeks, three days prior to the arrival of the next scheduled tanker.

In July, Global remobilized to the platform to recover the sunken fender, subcontracting with Pacific Pile & Marine to provide a 500 ton crane. The 175.5 ton fender was lifted from the seafloor and loaded onto the barge and then transported to Nikiski, Alaska, for repairs and later returned.

The repaired system has been fully operational since mid-October.