Towboat Charleston’s salvage dive team, Greg, Thomas, Bobby, Matt, and Jamie, volunteered their time to train the Charleston County Sheriff’s Department’s dive team on safe boat removals.
Prior to yesterday, their experience and training were focused on body and vehicle recoveries
This first boat for them to learn on was perfect. It was in a good spot where there is a strong current and not too deep. It also had numerous entanglement issues with the mast and deck rail cables, combined with a shredded mast that seemed to be everywhere. It provided the opportunity to learn, while also easily rescuing any diver who may have gotten into trouble.
Which did not happen and we Did get the boat up with the rail cables above the surface. The problem was that we did not get the boat up high enough so that the gunwales were above water, allowing it to be pumped out and then towed. We needed another 4-6 hours of repositioning bags and straps to obtain that, and we were running out of daylight. So the call was made by Greg and Damon, the two dive team leaders, to call it, remove the gear, and try again at a later date
It is always disappointing when we don’t get a boat, but in a way, I am glad that their first boat was a difficult one, and we had the usual things go wrong.
Compressor not starting.
Breaking a couple of pumps, but all in all, it was a great 3 days together
I am also glad that their Major came out for two days to observe and see the difficulties in getting these boats up
The Sheriff’s Department Watercraft team had a lot of patience and provided support for everyone. We had gear and people stacked and hanging everywhere we could find space
Our on-the-water family just increased by 14.
Last but not least, a big thank you to Safe Harbor City Marina, which provided space and support for Towboat, the Sheriff’s Department, and Wounded Nature.
