"COLD STEEL" -- and Paying the Bills - -

LAST WEDNESDAY MORNING, CHILLY SUNRISE ON THE LAKE

In spite of the 7 degree air Temps and near 32 deg Water temperature - - we still  have to keep the wolves at bay - - mama needs new overshoes,  gotta keep the lights on -- anyway, you get the picture - -.

Wednesday  (1/12/11) we were called to check out a 31 foot Dock Company "Work Barge" that had sunk at the dock near the 23 mile mark on the Main Channel.  Capt Anderson and myself picked up Capt Tim McNitt of Atlantis Dive with his gear and headed to the scene by vehicle.  Air temp was 14 deg with wind at 6 mph making for a chilly plunge.  We met the Water Patrol officer at the dock and Tim jumped in to do a quick survey to see what we were dealing with.  The heavily loaded barge was in about 35 ft of water, bow up, leaning back against some trees.  It will not be an easy recovery.  We reported to the owner and waited for the "go ahead" to recover the vessel, maybe over the weekend, the weather is due to "warm up?" to the upper 20's, low 30's - - - :)

CAPT TIM MAKES FINAL GEAR & (Sanity) CHECK BEFORE TAKING THE PLUNGE

TIM HITS THE WATER AS SOME CURIOUS MALLARD DUCKS LOOK ON

Friday morning, the owner called and wanted it up ASAP, so we rounded up the troops in far better weather conditions then we had the previous days.  We had a narrow window of good weather with temps in the upper 30's.  Capt Tim brought in his Salvage boat and we went to work.

This was a dangerous job for a diver as the barge was heavily loaded with steel, for erecting docks, Tim was hit several times by shifting steel on the barge while he hooked up the Lift bags - - -.  (Note: almost ALL salvage jobs are dangerous for the diver - - just some MORE than others).

 With all the steel, welders, torches, bottles, etc., having shifted on a old 1958 flat bottom barge with a narrow 8ft beam, her stability was precarious at best and she was difficult to level so she could be pumped.  But with enough lift in the right places, anything can be overcome and she was re-floated in spite of puncturing several bags on all the steel and sheet metal - -.  

1:48 P.M. CST, BOW of the BARGE RISES TO SURFACE

3:00 P.M., NEAR SURFACE , she begins to level out

 5:11 P.M. As darkness sets in, re-floated and hooked up for tow to Marina.

NO MATTER - - SLEET, SNOW, DARK OF NIGHT - -