Salvage crews removed all 20,363 gallons of diesel fuel from the capsized Seacor Power.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, salvage crews completed the daunting task of siphoning out the vessel’s fuel. Crews used a method called ‘hot tapping’, which involves drilling into the fuel tanks, making a hose connection, and transferring the fuel to portable tanks.
Approximately 4,500 gallons of hydraulic fluid remain on the partially submerged vessel, however, the Coast Guard says the tanks the fluid is in are not leaking. The salvage crew plans to remove the hydraulic fluid and remaining debris from the liftboat before attempting to refloat it to the surface.
“They plan to use a large crane on a barge but it is not as simple as getting a vessel and pulling it out,” U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Cory Mendenhall told WWL First News. “It's a complex process and of course our priority is the safety of the salvage crews so it is a slow-moving process right now.”
The Coast Guard did not give an exact timeline as to when the vessel will be raised but hope to complete the task sometime next month.
They also say they continue to monitor for any oil leaks and SEACOR Marine has an Oil Spill Response Organization standing by to contain and recover any oil that may leak out during the liftboat’s recovery.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. Nineteen crewmembers were onboard when the liftboat capsized on April 13.
Six crewmembers were killed, six were rescued and seven remain missing.
