SALVAGE SUNKEN NAVY TUG EL CAPITAN

Project Summary

In summer of 2024, Argonautics Marine Engineering, Inc. was contracted for the assistance with the removal of the US Navy tug EL CAPITAN, a 1944 build 79 feet long tug, from her submerged location at the offshore end of the breakwater at West Sound Marina on Orcas Island, WA, in 35 feet of water.

Based on the limited information available on the tug, a rigging plan was developed for the subcontracted derrick barge PACIFIC LIFTER. The 400’ x 100’ x 25’ derrick barge is equipped with a 600-ton fully rotating crane fixed on the bow. This derrick barge was transited by tug from Seattle to Orcas Island. Divers utilized pre-established messenger lines to run the 90' lifting chains under the tug hull. With the chains hooked to the lifting slings, the tug was slowly lifted to the water surface, at which point the trapped fluids were pumped out and stored for disposal. A materials barge, outfitted with 4’ bin walls, was utilized for landing the casualty and providing 100% containment for transit to the disposal yard.