Hurricane Katrina

August 2005

With wind speeds of 280 kilometres an hour Hurricane Katrina struck the US Gulf Coast and caused havoc across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. The expertise of SMIT Salvage was called upon to provide assistance for two grounded bulk carriers in the Mississippi and four drilling rigs. Salvage teams from Rotterdam and Houston were dispatched to the disaster area.

SMIT Salvage obtained Lloyd’s Form contracts for the bulk carriers ‘Patrizia D’Amato’ and ‘Chios Beauty’. These vessels were in ballast when the Hurricane struck. Using local hired tugs, the two ships were refloated on 3rd and 11nd September.


’Chios Beauty’


‘Patrizia D’Amato’


‘Patrizia D’Amato’

At the same time other SMIT Salvage teams responded to two semi-submersible platforms, the ‘DD1’ and ‘Arctic 1’, and two drilling rig/ jack-up platform ‘Ocean Warwick’ and ‘Hercules 25’.


’DD1’

As a result of Hurricane Katrina the ‘DD1’ was found with a 10 degree list to starboard and was sprung a leak. After the platform was patched and dewatered, the rig’s list was corrected. ’DD1’ was towed to Corpus Christi for redelivery on 5th September.   


’Arctic 1’

The ‘Artic 1’ broke loose and drifted approximately 28 NM before grounding in East Bay. This semi-submersible platform had a 5.5 degree list. By pumping the
’Artic 1’, a safe draught was restored. She was then towed to Brownsville for redelivery on 13th September.


’Ocean Warwick’

The ‘Ocean Warwick’ broke loose in Main Pass and drifted 66 NM before stranding on Dauphin Island. Divers cutted away the remains of the legs, the rig was then deballasted, refloated and towed to Atlantic Marine dock yard Mobile, Alabama. After having cleaned debris the operation was terminated on 1st November.

SMIT Salvage was also contracted for the removal of debris on the drilling site of the ‘Ocean Warwick’ (e.g. remaing of the legs).


‘Taklift 1’ and ’Smit Cyclone’ removed the remaining of the legs of the ’Ocean Warwick’

A SMIT team has been busy with the ‘Hercules 25’, she broke off her lower legs, drifted and is now positioned off Breton Sound, Louisiana. The workscope for this project was: oil removal, lighten deck load, remove upper and lower legs, deballast and refloat the platform. This project was terminated on 15th February 2006.


‘Hercules 25’