Ex-USS CHEHALISPago Pago Harbor, American Samoa

Overview of Fuel Removal Operations

CDR Mike Day

Circa: 1949

Government U.S. Coast Guard:

D14Sector HonoluluMSD SamoaPacific Strike TeamNPFCDive Locker EastMLC Pacific

U.S. Navy:SUPSALVMDSU-1CINCPACFLTUSNS SIOUX

Oceania Regional Response Team

U.S. EPA Region 9

Govt of American Samoa

NOAA

Public & Private Parties

Private GPC/ESSM

Tug El Lobo Grande IIT/B CAPELLA

3

USS CHEHALIS’ Service & Demise

• Displacement: 4,130 tons• Length: 311' Beam: 49' • Draft: 14'6" • Speed: 15.5 knots (max);

8.8 knots (econ) • Armament: 4 3"/50 DP;12 20 mm • Complement: 124 • Cargo DWT 2,120 • Diesel electric engines, twin

screws, 3,300 hp

8 Oct 1949

USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago

Reported Cargo

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

320,000 gallons of Mogas

70,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

CHEHALIS Timeline CHEHALIS Timeline

USN Board of Inquiry

5

Current Location of Ex-USS CHEHALIS

Pago Pago Harbor

is located 14°16’S by 170°40’W

Pago Pago Harbor is classified as UBC Seismic Zone 3 (ascending scale from 1 – 4).

8 Oct 1949 1955

USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago

Reported Cargo

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

320,000 gallons of Mogas

70,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

CHEHALIS Timeline CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM for salvage from USN.

USN Board of Inquiry

8 Oct 1949 1955

USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago

Reported Cargo

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

320,000 gallons of Mogas

70,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

CHEHALIS Timeline CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage

1959

USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvageUSN Board of Inquiry

20078 Oct 1949 1955

USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago

Reported Cargo

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

320,000 gallons of Mogas

70,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

CHEHALIS Timeline CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage

1959

USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvageUSN Board of Inquiry

Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks

9

USS CHEHALIS’ Remaining Cargo

The cargo deck and rolling oil-tight hatches (ROTHs) for bulk-fuel tanks B-1 thru B-10 are illustrated.

AFT

115’ (approx)

All tanks were inspected by direct visual inspection via diver access through ROTHs. Tanks B-2, B-8, B-9, and B-10 contain 115/145 Avgas. Tanks B-3 and B-6 contain Mogas as indicated by:

FORWARD49.5’B-10 B-8 B-6

B-9 B-7 B-5

B-4 B-2

B-3 B-1

Port Side

Starboard Side

15’ 15’20’20’20’

16’ 9’ 10’ 2”

6” 4”

ROTH

10

Satellite Photo of Ex-USS CHEHALIS Proximity

Starkist Cannery

SamPac

Port Facility

Pre-School

Governor’s Residence

B-P Oil Fuel Dock

Convention Center

Rainmaker Hotel

LT Governor’s residence

Sadie’s By-the-Sea

Lee Auditorium

Utulei Beach

Samoana HS

USS Chehalis

11

Bow

Stern

Vessel Resting on Starboard

Side

Fuel Dock

Rainmaker Hotel

USS CHEHALIS

20078 Oct 1949 1955

USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago

Reported Cargo

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

320,000 gallons of Mogas

70,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

CHEHALIS Timeline CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage

1959

USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvageUSN Board of Inquiry

Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks

2008

AMSAM & EPA R9 – Petition USCG to remediate

13

From this position, the B-P Oil fuel dock and terminal is on the port side of the M/T AXIOS

Location of USS CHEHALIS(approximate)

The port deck rail of CHEHALIS is 120’ below this area

M/T Axios often delivers fuel to Pago Pago Harbor. She is 603’ long and has a beam of 105’. Axios’ bulk-fuel capacity is 13 MG.

20078 Oct 1949 1955

USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago

Reported Cargo

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

320,000 gallons of Mogas

70,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

CHEHALIS Timeline CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage

1959

USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage

Apr 2009

Phase I – SurveyUSCG/USN Conduct Dive ops to Quantify fuel remaining

USN Board of Inquiry

Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks

2008

AMSAM & EPA R9 – Petition USCG to remediate

Surveyed Cargo (Estimated)

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

6,000 gallons of Mogas

65,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

1,500 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

20078 Oct 1949 1955

USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago

Reported Cargo

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

320,000 gallons of Mogas

70,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

CHEHALIS Timeline CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage

1959

USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage

Phase II – RemovalRecoverable Fuel Off-Load

Phase I – SurveyUSCG/USN Conduct Dive ops to Quantify fuel remaining

Apr 2010

USN Board of Inquiry

Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks

2008

AMSAM & EPA R9 – Petition USCG to remediate

Surveyed Cargo (Estimated)

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

6,000 gallons of Mogas

65,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

1,500 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

Apr 2009

Removal (Phase II)

20078 Oct 1949 1955

USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago

Reported Cargo

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

320,000 gallons of Mogas

70,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

CHEHALIS Timeline CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage

1959

USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage

Apr 2009

Disposal of Product bySystech (EPA Certified Recycling Center) Cement Kiln Fuel

July 2010

Phase II – RemovalRecoverable Fuel Off-Load

Phase I – SurveyUSCG/USN Conduct Dive ops to Quantify fuel remaining

Apr 2010

USN Board of Inquiry

Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks

2008

AMSAM & EPA R9 – Petition USCG to remediate

Surveyed Cargo (Estimated)

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

6,000 gallons of Mogas

65,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

1,500 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

Cargo Recovered & Disposed

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

700 gallons of Mogas

53,205 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

600 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

20078 Oct 1949 1955

USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago

20XX

Reported Cargo

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

320,000 gallons of Mogas

70,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

CHEHALIS Timeline CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage

1959

USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage

Apr 2009

Disposal of Product bySystech (EPA Certified Recycling Center) Cement Kiln Fuel

July 2010

Phase II – RemovalRecoverable Fuel Off-Load

Determination of Responsible Party

Phase I – SurveyUSCG/USN Conduct Dive ops to Quantify fuel remaining

Apr 2010

USN Board of Inquiry

Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks

2008

AMSAM & EPA R9 – Petition USCG to remediate

Surveyed Cargo (Estimated)

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

6,000 gallons of Mogas

65,000 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

1,500 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

Cargo Disposed

2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition

16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition

700 gallons of Mogas

53,205 gallons of 115-140 Avgas

600 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)

Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedPlanning Matters: High degree of coordination ensured successful outcomes. Planning for each phase started 6-months prior to each operational phase.

In a remote environment – redundancy and self-sufficiency are an operational imperative.

Survey phase provided valuable insight: Some pushed for one prolonged operation. In hind-sight, survey phase was critical to successful outcomes.

Synchronization of technical expertise: Multi-agency team that leveraged skills, knowledge, and capabilities worked very well. Flexibility of Incident Command System (ICS) allowed for flexibility and full integration of USN assets.

Thank-you

Questions…