Summary of Trips

There were six reef construction trips made during the fiscal month of February. Only three of these trips were successful. Concrete Rubble was placed at the new Chandeleur Site FH-12, and a shrimp boat was deposited at the Squash Channel Site FH-5.

Construction Efforts

Two jobs were being pursued during the month. Dyess Construction was contracted by Mississippi Power Company to remove rubble from their old cooling tower and deposit it at MGFB's Chandeleur Site FH-12. Robert Goff was contracted by MGFB to deposit a derelict shrimp boat at the Shallow Liberty Ship Site FH-3. The shrimp boat was cut into three pieces, so that it could be handled by Mr. Goff's equipment, and was loaded onto a barge along with a track crane.

On February 15, 1994 an attempt was made to deposit rubble at FH-12 but was aborted due to a broken tow line and injured personnel. The rubble was successfully placed two days later on February 17. The rubble was deposited at 12311.4, 47033.2, 29476.4. This is in the general Northwest corner of this new site which is bordered by Loran LOP's 12310, 12320, 47025, and 47035. The relatively light load was deposited along a slightly east drift as shown below.

1. 12311.1-2 2. 12311.3-4 3. 12311.4-5 4. 12311.6

47033.2-1 47033.1 47033.2-1 47033.2-1

29476.2 29476.3 29476.5 29476.6

A third trip on February 21 was successful in placing a well loaded barge near the previous load along a drift which was chronologically logged as follows:

1. 12311.2 2. 12310.9 3. 12310.7 4. 12310.9 5. 12311.1

47032.9 47033.2-.1 47033.2-.3 47033.3 47033.3

29476.0 29475.8-.9 29475.8 29476.0-1 29476.3

6. 12310.7-8 7. 12311.0-1

47033.5 47033.5

29476.1 29476.5

Computer and analytical analysis of the above readings has deduced three general readings for all of these deposits. They are shown in the Table below.

The Chandeleur Rubble is located about 12.2 nautical miles at 177° from Dog Keys Pass.

OR about 17.2 nautical miles at 233° from Horn Island Pass.

OR about 14.4 nautical miles at 236° from Horn Island Pass Farewell Buoy.

OR about 15.3 nautical miles at 131° from Ship Island Pass #12 Buoy.

On February 18, a trip was made to deposit the Shrimp Boat at the Shallow Liberty Ship Site FH-3. Very rough waters plagued the efforts as the primary Tow Boat buckled a seam when she bumped into the barge. The Contractor, intent on completing the job, continued on with his smaller push boat. A failed VHF radio on the push boat hampered communications as well. After more than three hours, very little headway was being made in the rough seas. With two more miles to go and making less than one half of a knot with seas climbing even more, the contractor and the spotter boat decided to try and complete the mission at FH-5 which was located a little over two miles, but going down current. The site was easily reached going with the seas and an anchor was set on the barge, holding her at 12267.5, 47064.1, 29468.3. The first piece of material to be deployed was one of the Stern Quarters. It entered the water easily, but failed to sink and was not secured to the anchor as was originally planned. The push boat attempted to pull the piece back to the barge but could not make any ground in the heavy seas. The spotter boat stayed with the piece while attempting to establish some communications with MGFB officials. Suddenly the piece decided to sink about 950 feet west of the FH-5 west boundary at 12261.2, 47064.7, 29462.9. The contractor then aborted remaining operations and pulled the barge back inside Horn Island. Upon returning to port, the spotter boat reported the incident to MGFB officials and Coast Guard Station Pascagoula (Petit Officer Pat Driver). Officer Driver reported the area to be in Gulport's jurisdiction but that he would relay the information to them for us.

On February 28, another attempt was made to finish the job; However, even more severe sea and weather state caused the trip to be aborted early in the efforts. At a March 3 MGFB board meeting, the FH-5 site was approved for desposition of the material in order to facilitate attempts at locating and moving the stray piece. On March 5, 1994, the job was finally accomplished. Much more pleasant weather conditions allowed the remaining bow and stern quarter to be deposited at 12267.1, 47064.1, 29467.8. Both pieces are cabled together and to a significant anchor.

Before arrival of the barge, the stray piece from the February 18 trip was successfully relocated and a 1/2 inch line was attached. The barge was positioned to attempt a lift of the piece. Dive operations revealed the piece had already settled into the bottom about one to two feet and the suction of the mud along with the weight was too much for the small line. The piece was located again and a 1-1/2 inch line was attached. The 60' trawler "Mystic" was used to attempt skidding the piece across the bottom. This too failed as the piece would not budge and the large line snapped. With the day growing late, the stubbornness of the piece was given into and further efforts were abandoned.

An orientation sheet is attached to the end of this report showing orientation of all material in FH-5 as well as the stray piece that landed outside the boundary.