WE WERE OFFERRED A SALVAGE WE COULDN’T REFUSE. THE GODFATHER WENT DOWN…
In an age of radar, sonar, GPS and satellite navigation shipwrecks still happen. Pacific Maritime Group was recently hired to respond to one, a 65-foot yacht that hit the rocks.
Luckily, no one was hurt or killed. Seal Beach Lifeguards pulled the occupants of the motoryacht GODFATHER from the water and brought them safely ashore. The boat was a total loss.
It had reportedly run into Island Chaffee at high speed in the night. The vessel did not entirely sink, though, and bobbed in the waves. As such it was deemed to present a hazard to navigation as well as a potential hazardous material spill. The Army Corps of Engineers joined with the US Coast Guard to take of the problem.
Global Diving, with their extensive experience and highly trained staff, was engaged to take charge. Divers in the water surveyed the vessel and reported significant damage. The GODFATHER’s bow was afloat with its stern sometimes dragging, sometimes anchored by it propeller. Gashes in the hull were too many for the vessel to be refloated with pumps alone. This was a job for a heavy lift.
PMG has crane barges and Global Diving hired the DB SAN DIEGO to raise the GODFATHER. This crane barge has a 300 ton Turner Crane aboard for work like this. Salvage Masters from Global Diving formulated a plan to use float bags to raise the GODFATHER and bring it fairly level to the surface. Wide nylon straps would go around the hull and the DB SAN DIGO would lift the GODFATHER out of the water and land it aboard the PMG deck barge YC-1.
The job went well. The GODFATHER was placed aboard. Divers scoured the sea bottom for other items that broke free from the wreck. This included engines, fuel tanks and more. These items joined the vessel aboard the YC-1.
As directed by the Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard, the YC-1, with the GODFATHER aboard, were towed to the PMG Yard in Long Beach. There the wreck was demolished and the remains of the yacht taken to a landfill.
