During the sixties private boats started popping up on lakes and waterway making boating an American favorite for relaxing on the water, fishing , or just sightseeing. Most if not all of these boats were made out of Wood. Made from high quality wood and hand craftsmanship they were built to last a life time, or so the builder thought. The late sixties brought a new type of boat Fiberglass. Continue reading →
Once again faulty wiring looks to be the cause of another boat fire. This one was at the Lowes Coronado Marina. A 55’Cabin Cruiser and a 45’ Trawler were burned beyond repair Thursday night. Vessel Assist San Diego deployed an 8 man crew with two boats and two truckloads of equipment, to secure and remove the first boat, a 45’ Trawler. The second boat, a 55’ Cruiser was sunk after it burned to the decks. The night before, Coronado Fire Department responded in full force, keeping water on the fire from land. The new, million dollar San Diego Harbor fire/police boat, was put into real action and performed as expected. The new 32’ Metal Craft and and its well-trained crew, used its high powered water cannons to attack the fire and keep it from destroying other boats. Continue reading →
Often time’s boats lose power and the boat survives to see another voyage. This was not the case for a 38’ shock sail boat after the operator reported to be out of fuel was repeatedly slammed against the giant sea wall that protects LA/Long Beach Harbor from the Ocean. Life Guards were able to get a line on the boat but the line parted. The giant swell and pounding waves made the conditions too dangerous for even the most experienced Life Guards. Continue reading →
Often times when the call comes in to raise a boat after it sinks in its slip, two things are pretty common. One, Vessel Assist San Diego’s crew are usually on scene and working within an hour or two of mobilizing. Two, the boat is usually less than 40 feet long. Continue reading →
Vessel Assist San Diego specializes in raising boats after they sink. Weather the boat is in a slip or in 400’ of water Vessel Assist San Diego can raise it. Most boats that sink in slips are under 40’. The Cathy Ann was a steel commercial fishing vessel 80’ long and weighed over 150 tons with the cement ballast added inside the hull to stabilize her for the rough Pacific Ocean. Vessel Assist San Diego was given the task of raising the monster vessel from 50’ of water. The steel vessel offered many challenges. One, the sheer weight and steel hull with cement inside offered zero buoyancy. Two, the vessel was resting on a steep slope bottom leaving only the roof out of the water and the only accessible hatch 7’ under water on the lowest tides. Three the salvage had to be done on a negative tide making the start date of the job New Year’s Day. Continue reading →
30′ Pangas full of illegal aliens and even drugs are hitting the beaches of Southern California. From as far north as Laguna Beach. Smugglers intentionally run these boats onto the beach with no regard for life or the environment. The Panga off Laguna Beach had 2- 250hp Yamaha Outboards that broke off the boat and came to rest hidden in the surf. Vessel Assist San Diego salvage divers had to dive the surf line to find these motors as they became instant hazards to humans as well as the environment. Over 300 gallons of gasoline was recovered in 15 gallon cans. Continue reading →
Vessel Assist San Diego Starts Massive Debris and Vessel Removal from San Diego Bay.
What looks on the surface to be a vacant closed A-8 anchorage with a few hazard floats on it from the surface is a literal junkyard of sunken and broken boats. Over the next 8 weeks Vessel Assist San Diego will be using Divers to identify and remove, using Baskets and Cranes from Pacific Tug Boat Service, over 650 Vessels and Debris fields.
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