TITAN redelivers New York State Canal Authority Dredge “HD1” in the Erie Canal

(Pompano Beach, Fla.; July 15, 2009) — TITAN Salvage has safely redelivered a 300-ton, 10-inch Cutter Head Dredge HD1 that sank in the Palmyra, N.Y. section of the Erie Canal to the New York State Canal Authority, only three days after beginning operations to salvage the vessel.

Last Wednesday, a team of six TITAN salvage experts with a complement of portable salvage equipment including high volume, electric submersible pumps, patching equipment and heavy lift bags began operations on the dredge. The dredge was submerged in approximately nine feet of water and carrying an estimated 2,000 gallons of marine diesel fuel onboard. No pollution was reported during the operation.

TITAN completed the project by eliminating means of water ingress. With the cooperation of the New York State Canal Authority, the canal’s typical water level of 9-feet, six-inches was pumped down to five feet using the Erie Canal’s water management system. Once the water level was reduced enough for hard back patches and a small cofferdam constructed out of sand bags to be effective, it was a simple matter of pumping out the hull for her to re-float. All through hulls were also plugged or capped as an added measure. Roy Dodgen, salvage master explained that once patching was complete and the cofferdam built, TITAN installed four, 4-inch electric submersible pumps to assist in identifying additional areas of water ingress. When TITAN engaged the pumps, the water level dropped one foot in about four minutes and the team continued pumping. About 2-and-a-half hours later the dredge was re-floated and secured.

Eric Hoban of OP-TECH Environmental Services, a leading provider of environmental and industrial services in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, hired TITAN after examining other bids to handle the New York State Canal Authority project.

“TITAN was the best qualified, best value contractor,” Hoban said. “TITAN worked very cohesively with us to ensure environmental impacts were addressed. Their service and response were excellent.”

The dredge was towed Friday about 13 nautical miles to the Canal Authority’s dry-dock facility in Lyons, N.Y.

“No job is too big or too small for TITAN,” said Gage Parrot, project manager for the operation. “I am very proud of the team and their approach to this project. Those guys have done some high profile, very complex salvage projects over the years and to see them get in there and knock this job out with the same tenacity and ingenuity they would on the bigger jobs says a lot for what they stand for.”

TITAN, a wholly owned Crowley subsidiary, is a worldwide marine salvage and wreck removal company based in Pompano Beach, Fla., that has performed over 400 salvage and wreck removal projects since 1980, including some of the most technically demanding projects ever undertaken. The company also has offices and equipment depots in Newhaven, UK and Singapore. Titan responds to vessel emergencies around the world and is able to mobilize a worldwide network of expert salvage professionals and specialized, portable equipment within hours of activation. TITAN is accessible 24 hours a day through the company’s main dispatch telephone number, +1-954-545-4143. Additional information about TITAN may be found at www.titansalvage.com.

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