Since this came to me with the recipient list suppressed I'll forward it on.
Some of ya'll may have already gotten this as well....
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Thu, 23 May 2002 20:56:26 -0400
From: Tom & Dee Scott <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Spiegel Grove- The full story......
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
OK folks, I've been authorized to release this. It should hit the news
tomorrow morning, media got it when I did, you get it now. You also get it
all as they won't print the full statement, just their take on it.
Read it for yourselves, decide for yourselves. What follows is the final
report of the man who was hired as "Sinking Supervisor" for this event.
This report was NOT edited. All questions as to what went wrong should be
answered here.
Formatting might get a bit hosed as it was copy/pasted from a Word
document. Should be readable, if not, contact me for another copy.
Tom Scott
---------begin---------
SPIEGEL GROVE AFTER ACTION REPORT
20 May 2002
Prepared for: Spencer Slate
By: Ken Normand
I have been representing myself and continue to do so at this time. The
following report was completed after I returned from Key Largo,
Florida. The tragic roll over of the Spiegel Grove was indeed
heartbreaking but most importantly no one was hurt or killed in the
process. This report will list the following:
(1) The original sinking planned agreed upon in Virginia Beach, Virginia on
April 23, 2002
(2) Approximate time lines associated with concrete events which occurred
during the operation
(3) A brief synopsis of why this operation went wrong
The facts presented here are from my notes and explain in some detail the
most important events that I was involved with and voice concern over. The
report is written to the best of my recollection and knowledge of the facts.
1. On April 23, 2002 the following personnel were present at a Spiegel
Grove meeting held at Bay Bridge in Virginia Beach, Virginia: Rob Blesser,
Jon Dodrill, George Garrett, Dave Score, John Halas, Don German, Ken
Normand, Claude Thompson, Ray Salopek, Dave Purdy, Larry Leonardson, and
Spencer Slate. This was only the second meeting that I was able to
attend. I was available by phone or email at all other times and was
contacted multiple times about different items of concern.
We discussed many aspects of the Spiegel Grove from cleaning it to sinking
it. Each person involved had an opportunity to speak on his part of this
sinking operation, what would be required and a chance to answer any
questions or concerns.
I discussed my plan to direct holes to be cut for water entry and air
exit. My original sinking plan had contained many things that would be
covered in Rob Blesser's over all plan so bits and pieces of my plan were
extracted to make an over all guide. The actual part of the sinking was to
be directed by Slate and myself. All plans were subject to some
modification and it was agreed upon that such change could possibly be
needed. This was accepted by all.
The flooding plan that was agreed upon was as follows. I wanted to keep
the well deck dry and free of water. Cut 8"holes in the wing walls from
frame 52 -250 every five to eight feet at the deck level to help facilitate
water flow. Cut multiple holes in frame 52 well deck bulk head for water
surging in at flooding time. Open every tank top through out the
ship. Cut holes in the main deck to let air out as water came in from the
underside. Cut holes in ballast tanks connecting them together and
allowing water to free flow forward. I agreed to ballast down some
internal belly tanks to help reduce the need for so much water to come in
and sink the vessel. I also stated that I wanted to have holes cut along
the outside skin of the ship but would wait until the sinking day to do so
to prevent accidental flooding in addition to cut holes from frame 228 aft
on the final day to prevent accidental flooding. I used a copy of the
docking plans to explain all of this and even acquired my own personal copy
to study, review and suggest changes if necessary. I said that the ship
would look like Swiss Cheese after the cutting of the necessary holes on
the outside and inside the well deck. I received thumbs up on this
proposed plan. I answered all questions and concerns and had no doubts
that we could do this safely and effectively but that preparation would be
the key to success.
I inspected the anchor system again and concluded that one of the ships
large winches was in the locked position because each machine had a
different visual appearance.. Each winch was in a different configuration
and I concluded that one anchor would not drop. I did not think that the
brake alone was holding the anchors in place and that the pelican hooks
should be installed for the tow. Don German volunteered to handle the
anchor process and also agreed that one winch could possibly be in the
locked position. I recommended that the anchors weight be lowered onto the
chain stoppers and pelican hooks to verify that the brakes were working and
that the winches were not locked. I am unclear of exactly why the system
was not tested but the port anchor would not drop when the brake was
released and therefore resulted in a delay of the anchoring process.
2. 14 May 2002 Boarded ship by accommodation ladder on starboard side
early afternoon. Ken Normand first aboard. Visual inspection revealed ship
had good tow. Slight list to starboard. Stern gate was still secured fast
with all pins in place. Pins were knocked out with not much effort. The
last latch located on the port side was very tight and the steel was cut
around it to help lower the gate. Gate slowly lowered half way down then
slowly creeps into full open position within the hour resting on its
holding bracket..
1300 Inspection of spaces below main deck. All hatches and scuttles had
to be broken free of welds. All lower compartments were relatively free of
water. Aft engine room had 6'' of water in bilge. Rudder room was clear.
1415 Masson Keeter and Ken Normand/ Tug slacks off pull. Tied tow
bridle with ½ rope to remove strain. Removed bridle and let tug pop strain
line and tow bridle free. Tug secures line back to ship for final movement.
Ken Normand and Spencer Slate/ Starboard anchor chain was let off brake to
hang on pelican hook. Anchor dropped approximately 3 feet in the haws
pipe. Brake was resecured. Pelican hook was released with a sledge hammer
when directed over GPS marked buoy by Masson Keeter. Brake was slowly
released and anchor fell with control to the bottom. Brake was applied to
slow chain release. Anchor locked in place with approx 300-400' of chain
deployed.
1430 Port anchor would not drop due to locked windless motor. The anchor
detail became very confusing and unorganized. I left the bow after to many
people became involved with the process. I inspected the stern anchors to
ensure the shackles were moused and safety wired.
1500 Some well deck hatches were removed and then replaced for tank
inspection. All tanks appeared to be free of debris and or liquids. The
after most tank in the well deck had approx 10% water. This was pumped out
to a forward belly tank designated by Ray Salopeck. I concurred.
1600 Supplies are delivered to the stern gate(fire hoses, pumps, tools,
food, drinks, safety equipment, etc) I was informed that starboard anchor
was let off brake and chain ran out to bitter end. Approx 900' of chain is
now out on starboard.
1630 Removed emergency tow line from rear port closed chock.
1700 Port stern anchor was routed through the inside well deck
chock. This anchor had 300-400' of cable and one shot of chain. This
cable was rerouted to the port aft closed chock as planned. The stern
anchor was rigged for pull out by John Debruce, Dave Debruce and their crew
from Upper Keys Marine Construction to the tug boats bow and drug out the
stern gate as planned. Tug was directed to pull anchor to the starboard
side with the cable obstructing the stern gate and planned exit and entry
point of the operation. (incorrect action)
1730 Starboard stern anchor was disconnected from the starboard aft bit
and relocated to the port bit that was already occupied by the port
anchor. This smaller anchor had approx 150' of cable and one shot of
chain. (incorrect amount of cable) It was noted to the project manager by
Spencer Slate and myself that this was not the planned four point
moor. This act now put the ship in a three point moor. The water was 10'
below the well deck at this time. Command and Control (CC) aware of the
incorrect and unplanned mooring procedures. Ship still at slight list to
starboard.
1800 Ray Salopek directs torch man to cut hole in aft ballast tank and in
rear bulkhead of aftermost 940 ton tank. This was done from inside the
rudder room.
1800-2130 More pumps were brought aboard and the center main tanks
were pumped with sea water. One tank was at 95% and the other at 50% when
we secured for the night. All operation halted at 2200. Ship has good
trim and list.
15 May 2002 0800- 1900 Diver safety cutting was performed by all welders
and
cutters.
0830 I noted that well deck water was leaking into the aft ballast tank
through the rear most well deck hatch. I replaced that tank top. I
informed Dave Debruce, the pump supervisor that this hatch could sink the
ship and it should be watched and guarded with extreme caution. He assured
me that he would seal it with a rubber gasket. I periodically checked the
rudder room for additional leakage from that hatch. The water was 7' from
the well deck at this time.
0900 Informed Command and Control that 4 personnel would be performing
an underwater hull inspection to check for soft patches. Inspection
revealed 3 soft patches, slight oyster growth and a clear discharge for the
main condenser. Divers clear fouled line from tug Portsmith's port screw
after hull inspection of Spiegel Grove. CC notified of dive results.
1100 Large quantities of water are now being pumped inside various tanks
directed by Ray Salopek and Claude Thomas.
1300 Claude Thompson, Justin Lowd and myself record draft readings of the
ships freeboard from the following positions on the main deck in this
order: starboard midship, starboard aft, port midship, port aft, starboard
forward and port forward. Thompson lowered the plum tape, Lowd verified it
was touching the water and I recorded the actual numbers on paper for
Thompson. After review of the numbers, I was comfortable that the ship
was not in danger at this time but that the displacement was increasing
every hour water was pumped in, and the pressure increasing on the existing
leaks raised their flow. I handed the information back to Thompson.
1500 Water is now 5' from well deck. Rear tank hatch is secured with rubber
gasket and bolted lid. Salopeck and Thomas direct various wing wall tanks
to be flooded. I disagree because this will prevent the cutting of the
well deck bulk heads at some spots and prevent water travel and air
escape. I discussed this with Command and Control personnel. Multiple
tank tops are still in place throughout the ship. Cutting the diver safe
entry still has the priority. Water is still being pumped into the wing
walls. Fill holes will not able to be cut as planned in the proper
tanks. The over flow lines are draining some water over the side. Some
ballast tanks are leaking into unknown spaces through out the
ship. Addition tanks are directed for flooding at midship. CC is notified.
1600 Dave Debruce informs me every two hours of the condition of the rear
hatch. He clearly understands the danger of that hatch failing. I have a
torch man cut two 8" holes, two feet above well deck port side at rear
escape trunk,( Frame 229) to facilitate detonation cord for Friday.
1700 -Rudder room is now taking on water through the rudder post seals into
the rudder room. (approx 50 gal per hour each) Tank top is still secure
aft of rudder room. The water is draining below deck (where
unknown.) Engine rooms are taking on water through the stern tube and out
of the shaft seals. (100-200 gal per hour.) CC notified of above. Midship
belly tanks are leaking into aft engine spaces and other lower spaces. CC
notified. Some leaks are repaired in ballast tanks from inside the engine
rooms. Forward engine room takes on water through an open valve from a
ballast tank. Valve secure by Justin Lowd. No significant water in
forward engine room at this time. Aft engine room continues to slowly
fill. CC notified through out my routine inspections of engine rooms and
rudder room. Well deck is now ballast 3' above water. Water is washing
into the well deck and over the sealed hatch. Dave Debruce reconfirms that
it is sealed. I double check it from below and determine that we have a
good seal. I again explain how critical and important this hatch is. I
told him and his dad that this hatch would sink the ship if water were
allowed to free flow inside to the rear 940 ton tank and smaller tanks
aft. This tank is now starting to fill from the water that is not staying
in other tanks through out the ship. This small amount of water is not
impacting the draft aft at this time. Estimate rear tank has 50 tons of
water inside. Capacity 940 tons. CC notified of stated conditions.
16 May 2002 0900 Wave conditions are so bad that we cannot board from the
stern and must use the ladder again. The tug was surging up and down
5-10'. Very dangerous conditions. I immediately made my rounds once
aboard and discovered the rudder post water intake had increased to approx
100 gal per hour each and the aft engine room was taking on approx 1" per
hour. Shaft seals were leaking at approx 200-300 gal per hour. In
addition to the shaft seals leaking, the ballast tanks were adding water to
the aft engine room. Some of these leaks were not able to be seen or
heard. Forward engine room was still in fair condition. Flooding was
limited to the shaft seal only. CC was notified. Ray Salpoek confirms we
are still in good condition. I feel that the ship is naturally taking on
enough water, and we should evaluate and throttle back on pumping the next
tanks to be flooded. Salopek disagrees. Pumps are having trouble
delivering water to forward large tanks so water will be hopped from
midtanks to forward.
1000 I informed Salopek that I would be instructing cutting operations
through out the main deck and well deck bulk heads. He disagreed and
informed the project manager. The project manager called a meeting of all
supervisors to discuss a plan to finish up and stay on schedule. I stated
that I needed to cut vent and fill holes as my sink plan read. I would
also have a list of critical holes to be cut for Friday. I wanted to
secure pump operations very soon and start offloading gear at
1200. Salopek and Thomas disagreed and said they intended to partially
fill the well deck with 2' of water. I immediately voiced my concern and
reminded them that I was the sinking supervisor. Rob Blesser defended
Salopek and Thompson. I told everyone in the CC that if they flooded the
well deck that the ship would sink itself and possibly roll over. Claude
Thomas then began to review his version of the plan. I tried to input my
concern that he was making a positive block for the water and air by
filling the wing wall tanks and I was shut down. I then verbally told
everyone that I would not be making any decisions involving the flooding
process and would place the demolition charges were directed by Salopek and
Thompson. Forced Flooding continued through out the day. Many people
asked me for direction and I told them to see Salopek and Thompson and that
I was no longer in charge of the flooding. I pulled Rob Blesser to the side
and had words with him about my disappointment and lack of concern for the
approved sinking plan that had been discussed and approved. He could only
offer his apology and was not willing to take my concerns as
serious. George Garrett broke this meeting up when a helo was inbound. I
had no more to say to the CC at this time.
1330 Billy Poe of Explosive Services Inc came aboard. He briefed the CC
that when they finished up pumping, cutting and welding he would take over
and place the charges. He also stated that I would help determine the demo
placement.
1400 Engine room tour with demo guys. Demo placement was decided. We
would place Poe's shape charges on main discharge pipes and intake
valves. Ray Salopek concurs with the demo plan. Engine rooms are still
taking on water.
1430 Blanking plate is removed by Justin Lowd and Spencer Slate on main
36" valve to be blown.
1500 Demo placement is marked with spray paint by Ken Normand and Justin
Lowd.
1600 Normand and Lowd continue to make rounds forward and aft. Multiple
hatches are still secured on the starboard side. Multiple hatches,
scuttles and doors are secured forward. Very few vent holes are cut from
frame 1 to frame 150 main deck down. Few vents holes are visible forward
below main deck.
I have torch man cut small openings in well deck bulk heads in engine room
escape trunks on both sides to facilitate detonation cord placement on
Friday. Frame 110 port side and Frame 154 starboard side. CC notified of
holes cut for detonation cord. Pumping continues. I am now finding water
in multiple voids below deck that had been dry days before. Ship is
sinking by itself.
1800 I depart the ship with other personnel down a rigged gang
plank. Water is within a foot of the well deck. Pumping is planned to
continue until 2200. Pumping is secured at 1900 as reported to me by Dave
Debruce later that night. Dave Debruce informs me that we still have water
tight integrity aft. We discuss the importance of the rear tank and hatch
again.
17 May 2002 0930 -0950 I was meeting with Billy Poe and his crew at
Atlantis Dive Center firming up the demolition plans when we got word that
the ship was sinking. We immediately left Atlantis Dive shop and headed
out. When we got in sight of the ship we could see that the stern was
already low in the water. It was reported to us to have taken on 10' of
draft aft in 5 minutes.
0950-1015 The bow raised up out of the water and the ship began to roll to
starboard. We could see this from 3 miles away. When we finally got on
station the ship had come to rest on its stern upside down and the air
filled bow protruded above water.
1100 Additional holes had been cut in the wing walls at frame 230 at the
deck level. This would allow water to enter the large rear tank. We
relocated to the tug to formulate a demo plan to vent the bow and was
informed by Dave Debruce that Ray Salopek and Claude Thomas had directed
him to remove the rear most well deck hatch that was already 1'
underwater. He declined several times, explained that it would sink the
ship and was ordered to remove it anyway because their calculations said
the ship would stay afloat. The end results were exactly as predicted by
the original sinking supervisor.
3. In conclusion, I feel that this roll over could have been prevented days
before it
ever happened. The mishap started from the rush to get the ship to Key
Largo without testing the anchor system, acquiring the right lengths of
cable for one stern anchor and not following the sinking plan agreed upon
at the meeting.
The testing of the anchors could have prevented the chains from running
out farther than needed. The port brake system was not nearly in as good
shape as the starboard. It took three men to turn the brake wheel on the
port. This led to the initial confusion and could have resulted in injury
experimenting with the anchors out at sea when this could have clearly been
done safely in the harbor while in a controlled environment.
The next incorrect procedure was the stern anchor detail. The cable was
to short for the small balance fluke beach anchor on the starboard
side. The port anchor was first to be rigged and was directed to be placed
running across to the starboard side. This had the cable at an angle
across the well deck. This anchor had one fluke, a shot of chain and the
right amount of cable and could have been a very valuable holding point but
was instead pulled the wrong way. The starboard anchor was then removed
from the starboard side and placed on the port. Its deployment was at the
right angle but its insufficient cable made it practically useless. The
next day the ship had swung to port setting the bigger anchor and making
the small one just an unused clump.
Slate and I questioned this incorrect procedure with CC and was told that
they were trying to compensate for wind and current. Their intentions were
good but the bigger anchor should have been moved over to the starboard
side and it would have set itself fine with the right angle of pull and
also left the well deck open for easer access. This was not an after
though, it was suggested on the spot. An anchor on the starboard stern
could possibly have prevented the starboard side from rolling inboard
causing the vessel to lay upside down. The larger anchor should have been
placed starboard and was originally suggested.
The last action in question was the blatant disregard for the agreed upon
sinking plan. I made my intentions very clear at the meetings and
through out each working day. My recommendations were seldom met. I chose
to wait until the day before flooding to have the vent holes cuts but was
positively shut down. This is why I chose not to have any say so in the
flooding and sinking plan as of Thursday May 16,2002. I choose to assist
the demolition guys with their permission on charge placement. My plan to
cut multiple vent holes would have let air out and water in. The direct
action of removing the hatch that had been deemed so critical all week was
actually what made the ship sink on the spot. It flooded the rear end of
the ship that was water tight holding up the back of the ship. The ship
would have sank by itself probably during the weekend because of the large
amount of water that was pumped in and the amount of water that was coming
in on its own but proper vent holes would have let the air out. I actually
thought for a moment as it was going down that it might just land on the
bottom alright but when the bow rose up so high in the air it was evident
that there was not enough ballast forward and no vents to let the air out
in sufficient time to prevent a roll over and subsequent air entrapment.
I walked the ship everyday all day and used my eyes, ears and senses to
help me make some of my decisions. My other tools of success were frequent
draft readings aft where the water would be coming in first, water tight
integrity checks at critical places and constant monitoring of the large
amount of water that was being pumped in. This excessive amount of water
pumping was not necessary due to the fact that we had permission to use
explosives to cut water entry holes. I agreed to some ballasting during
initial planning but at some point you will reach the straw that breaks the
camels back.
I am sorry that this had to happen this way and thank GOD that no one was
hurt or killed during this mishap. Equipment can be replaced, a human life
would not have been. I explained and emphasized the inherent danger
involved with this type of operation and made it very clear to all
involved. I thought I had everyone's trust and confidence with this
matter. It is my belief that this could have been prevented. We had
proper planning but had poor cooperation. I would like to thank the people
of Key Largo Florida and Spencer Slate for believing so highly in me and
giving me an opportunity to participate in such a valuable, worthwhile
cause. I think that a salvage company will be able to make this situation
right and I personally have gained a multitude of operational experience
from this mishap but have to say that this is the first one that I have
been involved with that has gone turtle on the surface. I express no bias
opinion and have stated the facts as I have witnessed them and have drawn
my own conclusions.
Good Luck and Blue Skies.
Respectfully,
K. C. NORMAND
----------end------------------
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Mike Wallace
Huntsville,Ala
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