Barge Now Positioned for New Carissa Wreck Removal

"Karlissa A" barge being moved from temporary mooring in Empire to wreck site.

The New Carissa closer to the time it went up on the beach. Photo courtesy: cmasource.com

(COOS BAY, Ore.) - Titan Maritime has started the process to position one of two barges by the New Carissa wreck off the North Spit near Coos Bay.

Today, the Karlissa A is being moved to the north side of the wreck. If the weather and tides continue to be favorable, the barge should be placed and "jacked up" out of the water by later this evening, said David Parrot, managing director of Titan.

He says the Karlissa B barge won't be moved until later, depending on weather and surf conditions, and will be positioned on the west side of the wreck.

"The K-A is being placed first because it will connect to the on-shore staging area via a cable system for transporting workers and equipment", said Parrot. The tower for the construction transporter already has been installed on the what they describe as the foredune.

"Once in place, both barges will be raised about 40 feet above the surf by pneumatic jacks that drive the barges' steel legs into the sand." To fully position each barge takes up to several days, Parrot said.

The barges – each 170 by 80 by 13 feet – were moved late last week from Coos Bay's Central Dock to the Cape Arago Dock in Empire owned by Sause Bros. Titan employees and many local contractors worked on the barges for two months to prepare the barges for the removal process at the wreck site.

Titan has secured the on-shore work area on Foredune Road with fencing, and built a temporary bypass road to allow public access on the North Spit.

More information about the removal process is available on the Department of State Lands (DSL) Web site – oregonstatelands.us. The department is the state agency that oversees the territorial sea, in which the stern section of the New Carissa rests.

DSL has a contract with Titan to remove the wreckage by Oct. 1, 2008. All funds for the removal are from a $25 million jury award paid by the ship's owners in 2002.