Oil Patch Bits: Hydrogen reactor returned after rolling off barge

Global Diving & Salvage Inc. said Jan. 24 that it provided an inspection class ROV (a remotely operated underwater vehicle) to inspect a 485-ton, 140-foot long stainless steel reactor vessel for damage and assess its orientation when it rolled off a barge into approximately 60 feet of water off Cherry Point, Wash. The reactor was filled with nitrogen to prevent corrosion during transportation; one end rested on the sea floor, with the other end, just breaking the surface.

Global was contracted to develop, implement and manage the salvage response. Over the next 10 days, working closely with engineers and the owner, a detailed salvage plan was developed to safely lift the reactor from the water and deliver it back to the owner aboard a barge into cradles that were mounted to a transporter for offloading and movement to its final location. Global was able to bring together the required resources from several of the Northwest’s leading marine construction companies; General Construction and Manson Construction provided heavy lift derrick barges; Foss Tug and Barge provided the barge and tug assistance.

After implementation of the plan and delivery of the reactor on the receiving barge, it was safely transported to shore and offloaded. The reactor is an integral piece of a refinery upgrade, assisting in the manufacture of low sulfur diesel fuel.