NBC Channel 4 confirmed tug slowly rising from water
MARCH 24, 2016 — New York native information stations at this time confirmed footage of the 84 ft tugboat Specialist slowly being raised from beneath the Tappan Zee Bridge. The tug sank March 12 after slamming right into a stationary building barge close to the bridge (see earlier story).
The physique of the captain, Paul Amon, 62, of Bayville, NJ, was recovered from the Hudson River following the incident and the physique of a second crew member, Timothy Conklin, 29, was recovered the next day. It was hoped that divers might get well the physique of the third crew member, Harry Hernandez, 56, following the elevating of the wreck.
Using one in every of its crane barges, marine salvor Donjon Marine Co., Inc., Hillside, NJ, raised the tug below a WRECKFIXED 2010 salvage contract. Company Executive Vice President John Witte Jr. advised Marine Log that the tug had been raised and pumped out and could be saved on one of many firm’s barges at an undisclosed location to permit for federal, state and native authorities to examine and full their investigations.
“We have, unfortunately, been involved in salvage cases such as this, where bodies have been trapped in the hull,” says Witte. Witte talked about that the tug and its crew had been identified to the native maritime trade. “Steel can be replaced, but people can’t.”
The Coast Guard monitored the hoist of the tugboat Specialist close to the Tappan Zee Bridge.
The Specialist was a part of a three-tug group that was pushing a crane barge south on the Hudson River. The 84-foot lengthy vessel struck a stationary barge close to the Tappan Zee Bridge at about 5:30 AM on March 12 and sank in 40 toes of water inside a brief time frame.
One crewmember was recovered from the water within the fast aftermath of the collision, however couldn’t be revived. Divers recovered a second crewmember’s physique at about 11 AM on March 13. Divers positioned the third crewmember on March 14, however had been unable to securely take away him from the Specialist.
“The hours and days of planning that went into this are unfolding on the water right now and everything is moving exactly as planned,” mentioned Lt. Cmdr. Andy Frye, Coast Guard Sector New York. “Westchester County Police Department is in charge of investigation and the salvage company is working in concert with the extraction team but the process is done in bits and pieces.”
The waterways had been utterly closed off to make sure there was no marine visitors whereas performing the carry.
“One of the primary concerns is bringing closure to the family but we also want to make sure the environment is safe,” mentioned Cmdr. Bernard Sandy, Coast Guard Sector New York. “The last reason we’re here is to oversee the salvage and make sure everybody works together well and we have a safe operation.”
The Coast Guard will stay on scene, coordinating with native companies and monitoring the location for any air pollution or launch of particles from the tug.
