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Month: July 2014

Huachinango

Huachinango

Huachinango

Photo: USCG

On July 29, 2014, the 68 foot long fishing vessel Huachinango suffered water ingress off Corpus Christi, Texas near Baffin Bay.  The three crew on board reported that the shrimp boat had suffered flooding in the engine room.  The crew started the pumps, but the water continue to rise in the engine room covering the lower section.   The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter and the cutter Brant to the scene.  The helicopter arrived first and dropped a dewatering pump to the Huachinango.  The Brant arrived a short time later and transferred a second pump on board the fishing vessel.   With the pumps and a team to assist, the flooding on board the Huachinango was brought under control.  The Brant escorted the Huachinango back to port.  No reports of injuries.
KiiiTV.com South Texas, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend

Aground off Evansville

Aground off Evansville

Martha Denton

The 121 foot long towboat Martha Denton went aground on the Ohio River at Evansville, Indiana.   Martha Denton was attempting to make the turn in the river when windy conditions cause the towboat and its barges to run onto the riverbank.   An hour later, the Martha Denton and barges were able to be refloated. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. The Martha Denton continue to proceed downbound on the Ohio with its 15 barges.

Martha Denton
Photo: Courier & Press
Celacante Lost

Celacante Lost

Celacante
Photo: letelegramme.fr

The grounded fishing vessel Celacante sank on July 12, 2014  during salvage operations off Pierres Noires, France.  The Celacante went aground on May 22 when the trawler attempted to rescue a sailboat in distress.  The Celacante remain aground for two months as the owner arranged salvage operations.

The salvage team began operations in early July.  The team had lightered the trawler and  installed balloons to give the vessel additional buoyancy.  Some 20 tons of diesel fuel and oil was removed from the vessel’s tanks.  After the work was completed, two tugs were able to successfully pull the Celacante off the rock planning to head directly to Brest.  The salvage team then inflated the balloons on board the Celacante to start the tow, but the fishing vessel lost buoyancy.   The balloons were insufficient and the trawler quickly listed over to starboard before sinking by the stern.   Reports state the divers had underestimated the damage to the vessel.  Further inspection found large cracks along the entire length of the engine compartment.  The Celacante now rests in 15 meters of water just 300 meters off the  Lighthouse of the Black Stones (Pierres Noires).