TowBoatUS San Diego Removes the Remains of a 38’ Sailboat After it Ran Aground on the LA Light Sea Wall.

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.   When a vessel goes aground it is required by law to be removed as it poses an environmental and safety hazard. After two storms smashed the once sleek racing vessel into pieces, Vessel Assist San Diego was contracted to remove the debris. Diving against a sea wall is very dangerous even in small swell, the surge is so powerful you can be picking up pieces one second and be pinned to the seawall the next. Captain Tony Olson led the Wreck Removal team on the water as Captain Robert Butler Combed the local beaches with a land clean up team. Dislodging the 4500lb keel from the rocks proved to be very difficult. Vessel Assist San Pedro was used as both a work Platform as well as a tug to pull the heavy debris away from the rocks so float bags could be safely attached without the effects of the surge near the sea wall. Vessel Assist Point Loma was used as a rescue vessel and use to transfer the debris from the sea wall to the San Pedro. Salvage diver Captain Shane Thompson and Augustine Malfavon worked in tandem to make sure every piece of debris was removed while watching out for the dangerous surge. 4000 and 6000lb float bags were used to lift the heavy parts to the surface then they were towed to a nearby crane to be disposed of. The deepest pieces of debris was in about 44’ of water but most of the debris was imbedded in the rock sea wall.