TowBoatU.S. Installs Buoys in Former Bombing Site

On March 20th 2008, the 96' OSV, M/V Richard L. Becker got underway for Vieques, Puerto Rico with 4 crew members on board. Two unexploded ordnance (UXO) divers, two environmental specialists, and a representative from the contracting company joined the boat in Puerto Rico along with a 5th crew member and 3 commercial divers. The mission was to install warning buoys off the southern tip of Vieques Island, Puerto Rico which is a former Naval bombing range and is now operated as a wildlife refuge. The warning buoys are to inform boaters of the potential hazard related to Unexploded Ordnances and anchoring near these potentially dangerous sites. Once the mission began the first operation was for the UXO divers to go into the water to make sure the site was safe for work. The next step was for the environmental divers to ensure that no marine life or habitat would be disturbed during the operation. The buoys and their moorings were then assembled on the deck of the Richard L. Becker and placed in the specific spot designated by the environmental specialists. The divers then screwed down the mooring to the ocean floor using a helix anchor screw; alternatively, pin anchors were drilled and installed using epoxy into sites that had hard bottom. These permanent anchors were attached using chain to large concrete clump weights acting as secondary moorings. In all there were 7 buoys, each measuring 15 feet in diameter. The total weight of the buoys and mooring gear was in excess of 100,000 lbs. The 28 day operation was a complete success. Dennis Ballam of CH2M Hill stated; "The vessel crew and divers were a professional team focused on the task at hand. Despite the challenges we encountered with rough weather, the operation was completed on time and on budget thanks to the efforts of this team. The Richard L. Becker was the perfect vessel for this job, the 7.5 ton capacity crane helped make deploying the buoys and the clump weights go very smoothly. We will definitely use this boat again in the future for similar operations."

The Richard L. Becker is available for hourly, daily or long term charter. She is based in Port Everglades Florida. Please Call TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale for charter rates and availability.