Barge in distress!!!! [Archive] - Abaco's Community Message Board

Watercolours

11-26-2005, 04:19 AM

The Barge is on the reef and it has been since before the letter was written. It is very calm now and if they were going to move it they would be here now moving it????? If it is not moved soon it will only become harder to move and may be there forever. This Barge is owned by Liberty Oil and is part of the oil exploration project that has been taking place near Walkers Cay on the Banks. It drifted off in Wilma. Kermit Waters (President of Liberty Oil) phone number is 702-499-9832 Give him a call and let him know your concerns for the reef and the enviroment everyone. When I spoke to him almost two weeks ago he said that they were coming with crews and equipment and a tug from Freeport in one to two more days???????? If anyone has any good ideas that will help get this thing moved post them.

CarolP

11-26-2005, 12:06 PM

While we were in Walkers various equipment of this outfit floated off during different storms. Offshore Walkers, down toward Grand Bahama. One of the platforms was semi sunk for many months. Sorry to see they are still hanging around the Abacos.

stagalee

11-26-2005, 02:27 PM

someone needs to get Abacay's or AT&T's tug go drag it off the reef by the anchor line with no anchor attached to it and sink it = that's the only way it will be out of our lives

PatW

11-26-2005, 02:55 PM

There is an e-mail contact too, its Kermittwaters@yahoo.com

Rockybay

11-28-2005, 08:24 AM

North Elbow Cay is in the background and the South MOW channel is visable.

harry

Rockybay

11-28-2005, 08:27 AM

Correction, that is MOW and Scotland in the background and the dark blue is the South MOW channel.

I have posted large photos to my web site for any interested.

http://www.rockybay.com/photo/barge1.jpg
http://www.rockybay.com/photo/barge2.jpg
http://www.rockybay.com/photo/barge3.jpg
http://www.rockybay.com/photo/barge4.jpg
http://www.rockybay.com/photo/barge5.jpg

Here I am

11-28-2005, 12:09 PM

Thank you for posting the photos. I know it may look as if the barge is anchored off the reef, but it is not. I have snorkeled completely around the entire barge and it is definately ON the reef. It may not been on the inner, shallower reef, but there is deeper reef to the East. If you have a good look at photo #5 and look very closely around the hull, you will see white areas. These are the areas of reef that are already damaged.

dogfish

11-28-2005, 12:34 PM

How deep is the water over the reef it is on? I'm wondering if we could approach it from the east. If it is still there in the spring. I'm sure it will be busted up by then and become part of the reef if it is not towed off.

-Doug

Here I am

11-28-2005, 02:28 PM

It is sittin in about 8 - 10 feet at high tide and the end of the anchor chain is in about 40 feet. If you do approach, please be VERY careful. And be nice to the poor guy that they have stationed out there - all by himself! Let's hope it is gone by then!

Marty

11-28-2005, 04:07 PM

I hope it is not still there in the spring. If it does break up it will spew any petroleum products, or other potentially toxic liquids or solids, that are on board. This will do more damage than the intact ship could ever do. This thing needs to be pulled out before winter storms have a chance at it.

How deep is the water over the reef it is on? I'm wondering if we could approach it from the east. If it is still there in the spring. I'm sure it will be busted up by then and become part of the reef if it is not towed off.

-Doug

dogfish

11-28-2005, 04:55 PM

It seems like the barge is in better shape than I thought it was. I hope they do get it off and no doubt that the reef will be better off if it is removed before it goes under. These reefs have been taking these sorts of hits (meaning the junk released when a ship goes down on them) for as long as ships have been sailing. It would be a short term problem rather than a long term problem.

-Doug

Summerbums

11-28-2005, 05:42 PM

Since the barge is not anchored, it is the property of whoever salvages it. Anybody that gets it off the reef owns it, for better or worse. If it is worth anything, go get it and sell it. But if you get if off the reef, you may be liable if it sinks again.

11-28-2005, 06:36 PM

Dogfish,

The problem is: Every time the barge swings, or rises and falls with the surf it will break and kill the reef.
Unless it leaks contaminents it is doing it's worst damage right now by just banging on the reef.
The longer she is there - the worse the damage will be.
Regards,
R.

Here I am

11-28-2005, 07:28 PM

The barge is solidly on the reef and is not able to swing at all. Also, it draws about 12 feet, so does not move with the tide either as it is sitting in about 8 - 10 feet at high tide. It has a flat bottom. Luckily, the only toxic subtance on board is 200 of gal of fuel that is in a tank on deck. This barge's only propulsion is via tug. I have attached a photo of a section on the reef near the stern.

11-28-2005, 07:39 PM

Here I Am,

Thank you so much for the photographs.
My point is that with a prolonged blow from the East or North East - water will stack up and on large swells she will move.
This time of year it gets very rough where she sits, and every inch she moves will be more damage.
Storms will come, and if she is still there the damage will be worse.

Regards,
R.

dogfish

11-28-2005, 08:02 PM

That thing is sitting solid on the reef and it is still holding together.....I think this barge is destined to become an artificial reef after a couple of storms bust it up. Out there on the outside it will quickly be covered with new growth (probably within a year). I would like to see it dragged off, but if not I hope it sinks quick to limit the damage to the reef.

-Doug

SamFamAustin

11-28-2005, 08:22 PM

I'm surprised that emergency response vessels have not been deployed as of the latest postings. I am not local but a few well-placed calls might help. The problem is not just the coral damage but also that a typical drilling ship (a barge if you must) contains many "bunkers" of fuel oil, lots of drilling fluids, brine water, bilge water, waste oil, cuttings from the drilling, ballast, and so forth. The danger is not the coral poking a hole in her (meaning the drill ship) but splitting at the seams - she looks like a very old boat indeed. Usually, bunkers are between the outer skin of the ship and the floor, although some are mounted longitudinally along the sides of the vessel. I do not mean to sound alarmist and I hope everything works to the best. /sam

11-28-2005, 08:32 PM

Dogfish,
If the barge is still there when a big storm comes it will be driven further to the west, and damage more reef.
Coral reefs are very old, and don't come back in years, or a even decades.
The damage already done will outlive you and I.
Regards,
R.

dogfish

11-28-2005, 09:49 PM

R,
I think we are getting at the same point. The barge in its current position is a bad thing. Will it mare the reef? yes (it already has). Will it take many years to heal that part of the reef? absolutely. Will kill the reef system forever? No, only environmental factors like human waste or repeated daily damage (like in the Florida Keys). This is not the first barge to wreck on the reefs of the abacos (and bahamas for that matter) and it will certainly not be the last.

Best case is the barge is dragged off soon and the barge is put back to work. The worst case is that the barge never settles and takes many storms to bust it up causing further damage to the reef. If it is not dragged off soon, I would like to see it sunk quick to limit the damage. If sank quick it will have new growth on it in a year (soft corals come first). I have seen ship parts embedded in healthy coral off of bimini, it is amazing how fast a sunken ship becomes part of the ecosystem in a healthy marine environment.

-Doug

dogfish

11-29-2005, 12:00 AM

I hope this barge will be just a memory in a couple of months........

Watercolours

11-29-2005, 03:58 AM

Thanks for posting the photos. Keep sending the e-mails calling or sending letters to anyone that may of help. It does not look like the owners are that interested as we have had some calm days to work on moving this barge and nothing was done. It is starting to blow again and the seas are building. Kermit Waters is an attorney in Nevada. This Oil exploration Venture is possibly just a toy buisness for him as he is not getting much done to save his venture. Are they realy looking for oil or just investors for there oil exploration ploy???????? Now we are left with the mess.

Alan Brown

11-29-2005, 10:02 AM

At the east end of Athol Island (immed. east of Paradise Is.) lies the LCT wreck. It is the remains of an old landing craft that ran ashore years ago during a storm. It was also where part of the famous underwater fight scene in "Thunderball" was filmed. Over the years it has become a famous tourist attraction, as snorkel and dive boats regularly stop there to disgorge their eager hoards. I took divers and snorkelers there all the time when I worked in Nassau and have dove or snokeled this wreck at least a hundred times. I mention this wreck as I think it has a bearing on what could happen with this stranded barge.

If the worst-case scenario occurs and the barge is not removed from the reef, it will become a permanent fixture of the reef for many years. Provided that all harmful chemicals are removed from the barge before it is officially abandoned, little more reef damage should take place. After a short period of time, as was the case with the LCT wreck, new corals will begin to form on and around the hull. Fish life around the wreck will dramatically increase. In short, the reef will reclaim its own and a new diving/snorkeling/fishing opportunity will have been created. So, all is not lost if the barge is not removed!

Yes, the reef has been damaged, but it will recover. The major danger facing coral reefs, including this one, isn't groundings, it's bleaching. This is caused by natural increases in surface water temperature, run-off from wastes and fertilizers, etc. and is becoming a very serious problem throughout the Caribbean and Keys. This kind of reef damage is permanent and worries me far more than a grounded barge.

To close, if life gives you a lemon, learn to make lemonade!

Rockybay

11-29-2005, 02:44 PM

Here are two more photos taken Tuesday 11/29

larger (1024 768) are available here:
http://www.rockybay.com/photo/barge6.jpg (http://www.rockybay.com/photo/barge5.jpg)
http://www.rockybay.com/photo/barge7.jpg (http://www.rockybay.com/photo/barge5.jpg)

h

Here I am

12-01-2005, 03:46 PM

Rocky Bay - thank you. If these photos and the underwater one that I posted don't prove that it is on the reef, I don't know what will besides taking Mr. Kermitt Waters himself out there in snorkel geat.

Watercolours

12-02-2005, 05:57 PM

big fish

12-02-2005, 08:28 PM

I recieved an e-mail from Kermit Waters and he still says that the barge is not on the reef. It is! He says that he and crew is working on the problem. Nothing has changed, the barge is on the reef. I dont see the Tug that he has says was coming? If this barge is truly insured the insurance company should know the situation and the enviromental liabilities that are here for them. How can we find the name of the insurance carrier? Any thoughts on any of this should be posted.
I'm not sure Mark, but perhaps there is an international ship registry that might have the insurance company listed. Also, isn't there a Bahamian enforcement agency that would deal with penalties for negligent groundings as in the US? There really should be a Bahamian agency that would be able to effect emergency measures (tug/towing service) to protect natural resources I imagine. I really don't know about Bahamian agencies. Sorry to be of so little help.

Bruce

Watercolours

12-03-2005, 08:06 PM

I recieved a phone call back from Kermit Waters this afternoon. He told me he was here in Abaco in Marsh Harbour and that he had pumps, a large inflatable dingy equipment and additional crew here. There plan was to pump the barge out see if it will float then have the tug come here and tow it away. They will dive on Sunday to verify the status of the anchor that is not there and make determoinations if the barge will float, then the tug will come from Freeport if it will float he tels me. I went to out the Man O War Chanel after his phone call and did see an inflatable there off loading something. A half an hour later the crane on deck came to life and the inflatable with more equipment was lifted on the deck of the barge. There is something going on and we will continue to keep a look out to verify that there is a continuing effort to remove the barge. There was three or four men there. We will assist him as much as we can if there appears to be progress and an interest by the owners( Liberty Oil and Kermit Waters) The phone calls and e-mails possibly helped but the barge is still on the reef so it is not done till it is gone. But this is a positive thing!

big fish

12-03-2005, 09:20 PM

Good job Mark!

The noise you made apparently got a response.

SamFamAustin

12-03-2005, 10:36 PM

Thanks for the update, Watercolors. Is she banging her stern and maybe taKing it hard? /sam ;)

Tequila Gecko

12-06-2005, 02:54 PM

This thread has been dead for a few days. Any new word on the barge?

dive guana

12-06-2005, 05:52 PM

Still there as of 5 pm today

Watercolours

12-08-2005, 09:37 AM

I spoke with Kermit Waters and he tells me the crew is still here and they, awaiting four 6' pumps and have there plan inplace. I dont have any way to verify this other than what he has told to me and seeing activity on the barge as I saw a few days ago. I will go out as soon as weather permits for the next look. As long as there is activity on the barge there must be an interest by the owners to save it. The Port authority is aware of the situation. Let keep our fingers crossed that this barge doe get out of here.

PatW

12-09-2005, 02:30 PM

This is from the Freeport News today, Dec. 9, 2005

http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/284898402974845.php

Watercolours

12-17-2005, 06:08 AM

The Barge is still here. The owner does still have a crew here staying in a hotel in Marsh Harbour. A local freight Barge has been contacted to deliver more pumps to the barge. They were unable to do this as there was too much of a swell and are waiting for the right day.

Watercolours

12-22-2005, 07:16 AM

The owners of the Barge (Kermit Waters, Liberty Oil) are continuing there efforts to remove there Barge and keep running into additional problems. They di try to get there 6" pumps aboard the barge last week usuing one of the local freight companies. As the pumps were heading there the seas continued to build. When they got on site there was a six foot sea running and could not come along side to transfer the pumps. They may need additional help. Does any one know the contact information of a salvage operator out of Exuma named Marcus Mitchel? The situation for our reef is serious and it is very important that this barge gets removed. The location of the barge has not changed since this barge went aground as of now. We will check it again after each blow or big swell.

Raptor

12-22-2005, 07:34 AM

You might contact Sampson Cay, or Jeff Lowell at Boothbay Region Boatyard in Maine. Their websites are linked. We've discussed Marcus and Rosie a few times and how Sampson has changed since they sold it. Seems like his ex-wife is in Eleuthra (Harbour Island). Just a thought for you guys to start looking for Marcus.

NewHorizon

12-22-2005, 11:54 PM

The pumps will not make much difference unless the huge gash in the bow of the boat is repaired. It does go slightly below the waterline, and is so large and open that you can see the crew's quarters. Unfortunately I am having problems posting my photos, but will get them on here as soon as I can(any helpful hints would be appreciated. I am trying to transfer them from a CD). They are amazing, and since I took them at Thanksgiving, we have been out to the reef about a week ago and it sure looks like the barge has deteriorated even more.

Watercolours

12-23-2005, 12:32 AM

I have been told that the bow section is separated from the rest of the boat by a once watertight bulkhead? The barge looks like it has not been touched for maintenance is several years and is in very bad condition. For some reason the owners seem to have an interest in removing her from were she sits. Lets hope there efforts work and she gets gone. As I see it they are the only chance of it being moved. Who else will do it?

DrRalph

12-23-2005, 08:25 AM

For help with posting a picture, check out Introduction to the Abaco Board (http://www.************/BoardIntro.html); the section you need is near the end of the article.

Abacofever

12-23-2005, 09:31 AM

They don't care. They are not going to spend 100K to salvage a scow like that, but they will spend 20-30k to make it look good in order to keep Govt off their backs and then throw hands in the air and state " a least we tried". If they really cared ? A crew with a 100 foot tug would have been there within 2 weeks. If it gets removed I will be shocked.

SamFamAustin

12-23-2005, 11:40 AM

My dad on Dickies is similarly pessimistic, this wreck being one of many.

CarolP

12-23-2005, 04:10 PM

This is the same outfit that hung around Walkers for yers. I personally saw 2 of their employees removing an engine from a large truck at the dump to use in their operation. Walker's did not discard anything of value and all the vehicles they bought were "used" since they would be further abused at Walker's ... Kermit runs a shoestring operation. The tug he had parked at Walkers was 100 years old. I sure would not go to sea on that thing. I think Abacofever is correct in that that barge will never be correctly removed. A true shame this outfit is still banging around (literally!!!) the Abacos.

Watercolours

12-23-2005, 07:34 PM

I agree with some of the last few coments, but I dont see any other chance than what the owners are trying to do. No one else is here doing anything. If any of you have a better plan please come on down and do it. Like I said earlier it is our best shot and I am happy the barge has not been totaly abandoned yet. Lets give these people a chance at least they are doing something. They are possibly on a shoe string but I dont have money to give them and I have not seen any other offers.

L0NG L00K 2

12-23-2005, 10:40 PM

I would like to see the pics of the gash in the bow. Also I was looking around on the internet and found out some one had an accident. For what its worth.
http://www.mmopa.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=13&RowId=387
Anybody got a website for Liberty Oil?
Ships registry?
I hope somebody smacks kermit waters for me.

NewHorizon

12-23-2005, 11:49 PM

They have quite a project ahead of them to make this seaworthy. For what it's worth, I believe they would be more interested in getting the equipment on board back than the barge itself.

NewHorizon

12-24-2005, 12:01 AM

Just a quick note to Dr. Ralph....thanks so much for the helpful hints on getting the photos uploaded!

Proteus

12-24-2005, 04:47 AM

It is an absolute crime that this barge has been allowed to sit for this length of time.
To properly sink this rust bucket a not insignificant amount of money must be spent.
To just say "leave it be" seems at best irresponsibly cavalier and at worst an opinion purchased. This barge will slowly silt iron across a wide swath of reef depending on currents and sea. The disruption that a healthy marine ecosystem sustains from this process has been long documented. The Bahamian goverment should fine the operator for every day it sits on or near this beautiful reef.

SamFamAustin

12-24-2005, 12:26 PM

I can't quite make out the name of the drill ship. I might be able to look in Lloyd's Register of Ships to learn some more about her under "barge" or "research vessel."

By the pictures there, and thank you NewHorizon, the hull is completely shot, with a fracture running below the waterline. The extent to which this can be "skinned over" with plate steel and edge-welded is not known - but she's not moving a single inch off the reef without some draconian construction of that sort.

I'm not a marine surveyor but I think we have a bucket of worthless rust here. /Sam

norvell

12-24-2005, 01:59 PM

Looks like "Louis J. Goulet" to me.

NewHorizon

12-24-2005, 02:10 PM

It is the Louis J. Goulet from Port Colborne. It used to be a canaller and Great Lakes ship(Welland Canal, etc.). You can find some interesting pictures from the 1990's, when the ship was in much better shape, if you do a Google search.

lucy

12-24-2005, 04:57 PM

watercolors ----mark ....you seem to be on top of this situration more then anyone else down there.... i don't mean this as a joke ..... but is the gov't aware of this and do they have any plans and can we expect ANYTHING AT ALL ?????? ( as in nothing ????? )

abaco dog

12-24-2005, 06:17 PM

the insiders' view: the drilling/barge companies' legal exposure can be eliminated, immediately, by simply putting the prime minister's law office on retainer. this is a lot easier and less expensive than removing the barge, eh?

SamFamAustin

12-24-2005, 06:42 PM

Hmm, no ship like that in my Lloyd's database, including Telesis and Liberty something. Must be flying without much insurance - although I haven't checked ABS or Bureau Veritas yet and none of my data is exactly complete (I do have >80,000 ships). She was a canaler, as said above, which explains the lack of engines, and definitely Great Lakes. So a towboat or crewboat should always be present to move her around and change the crews. One might ask the question "why is a Great Lakes canal boat sitting on a reef off Man-O-War Cay? Something's fishy here, like a scuttle job or something. /sam

s/v Fais Do Do

12-24-2005, 10:00 PM

Here's some more info: http://tugsrus.com/oil_drilling_equipment.htm

and: http://www.wellandcanal.ca/shiparc/misc/louisjgoulet/goulet.htm
(http://www.wellandcanal.ca/shiparc/misc/louisjgoulet/goulet.htm)
And from http://stevebriggs.netfirms.com/osmrm/registry.html

Translake No. 2 - Canadian List of Shipping 1970: Steel barge [No Power] Translake No. 2 [C.189910] registered at Toronto. Built at Owen Sound in 1958. 49'; 43, g.t. GAO Notes: Scott at Talisman Energy Inc. told me that Translake No. 2 was sold to the same guy who bought Louis J. Goulet from Talisman. That being, Steve Richardson of Bahamas Oil Ltd. and Tugsrus.com Renamed b] Jim Gibson. Not sure what flag it operates under. Digital photos in Russel folder.

dive guana

12-25-2005, 07:04 AM

Looks like the ship has seen better days. Looks like a good candidate for sinking as a wreck for divers to enjoy. If these guys were serious about moving her and had the $$$$ and will to do so they would have had a crew here a long time ago with pumps and a a big barge. A couple of pumps are not going to help.

I know it has been rough but working in a 6 foot swell would not prevent any salvage company worth its name from getting her off of the reef. It is incomprehensible that our government allowed these shysters to come in here and drill for oil without having not one bit of insurance. I have to have by law 1 million in insurance on my 34 foot dive boat which is only valued at $100.000 in order to renew my license. How can a foreign company come in and drill for oil and not have insurance ????? no environmental bond - no insurance - That should be illegal and I am sure it probably is . It is time we have some environmental law with teeth to prevent stuff like this from happening. If he was in the States there would be thousands of dollars in fines for every day he sat on the reef. It has been three months now and counting. No more lame excuses !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shame on the company and shame on the relevant government organisations

Troy

Proteus

12-25-2005, 08:34 PM

The marine life in the Abacos is so overwhelmingly beautiful; it is such a precious resource; that its high time the Bahamian government protected it accordingly, much the same way China protects its Panda; and the way the U.S. protects Yellowstone.
The Bahamian government owes it to their citizens and to all humanity really, to hold these people liably in such a costly way that this criminal negligence never happens again. If not; what then? What will wash up on one of your thousand year old+ healthy and exceedingly rare live coral reefs to stay? Imagination fears to image.