(NEW ORLEANS) — A Donjon-SMIT salvage team raised the bow section of the liftboat SEACOR Power to the surface of the Gulf of Mexico and transported it by barge Saturday to Modern American Recycling Services (MARS) in Houma, La. The vessel sank in a storm on April 13 near Port Fourchon, La., resulting in 13 deaths.
With the bow section removed, salvage work continued at the site, where crews conducted more acoustic surveys of the stern and accommodation sections. The updated surveys will be used to complete the rigging configuration to prepare the stern section for removal. Once the stern section is raised, the crews will continue the preparation and removal of the accommodation section.
The unified commander is closely monitoring the weather and adjusting operations as needed to ensure the safety of salvage crews.
The Coast Guard safety zone, extending 1 nautical mile around the site, and the Federal Aviation Administration temporary flight restriction, covering a 5-nautical-mile radius around the site and 2,000-foot minimum altitude, will remain in place until salvage operations are complete. Additionally, a temporary flight restriction is in place around the MARS facility. These restrictions are in place to ensure the safety of salvage crews working at the wreckage site and the MARS facility, as well as boaters who could place themselves in danger by transiting through an active work site where debris and other underwater obstructions such as anchor wires, mooring ropes and navigational buoys may be present.
The sinking of the liftboat is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast Guard.
– U.S. Coast Guard
