POHNPEI, Micronesia (17 July 2007) -- Some 37 days after the SS Thorfinn scuba diving liveaboard ran aground off Pohnpei, she is now afloat on "her own bottom" and moored in safe harbor. The Chuuk-based liveaboard ran aground on June 12 as it departed Pohnpei during its annual Pan Micro cruise. At least once every year, Thorfinn departs Chuuk and cruises through Micronesia removing waste oil from Pohnpei, Yap and other small islands in the archipelago. Thorfinn's traditional steam propulsion system enables the vessel to burn "dirty" fuel that would ruin modern diesel engines of the type fitted in most liveaboard dive boats. With some 80,000 gallons of recycled waste oil in her tanks, of which almost half came from the Pohnpei Utility Company's power plant, Thorfinn struck a reef in the narrow passage leading from Metalanim Harbor to the open sea. The collision punched a hole in Thorfinn's hull below the waterline where the engine room is located. As the engine room started flooding with sea water, Captain Lance Higgs quickly made the difficult but ultimately correct decision to save the vessel from sinking by grounding it on the reef. Perhaps more importantly, the decision to ground Thorfinn on the reef prevented a major oil spill and kept the narrow channel open to Metalanim Harbor, which serves cargo and tanker ships that regularly resupply the island. As to why Thorfinn hit the reef in the first place, Captain Higgs accepted full responsibility for allowing the distraction of a radio call to result in a navigational error as the vessel departed Pohnpei. Relief, frustration, gratitude Hours after Thorfinn was refloated, Captain Higgs expressed a sense of overwhelming relief mixed with frustration over the many problems that delayed the salvage work. "Our relief at being off the rocky exposed perch we've occupied for last 37 days is beyond words or description, Captain Higgs told CDNN. "Its difficult to describe the frustrations and exasperating delays of our salvage work, with a ship barely touched under the circumstances, but truly unable to organize even the most basic needs such as towing off vessels, barges and suitable pumping gear." Captain Higgs also thanked his crew, Adams Brothers Construction and his office staff for their steadfast commitment over the past five weeks to a successful outcome. "An immense amount of determination from all souls involved in this mission... from a most dedicated crew, to a local construction company persevering at their task in face of formidable odds and unavailable equipment, to our amazingly strong and resilient vessel that took the strains with virtual tossings of a thoroughbred's head, to an office staff that worked so diligently to keep all booked persons and past guests informed and on line.... we can only say the greatest of Kini Sou Chapurs, Kalahngans, and immense thanks from those of us who strained so hard to reach this course back to normalcy," Captain Higgs said. | | Unlike typical modern liveaboards that are relatively small and light, Thorfinn is a big steel-hulled ship designed and built in 1954 at Stord Shipyards in Norway to weather storms in the Antarctic. The combination of Thorfinn's sheer size and heavy steel construction plus unusually fair weather during typhoon season and Adams Brothers Construction, a determined local Pohnpei construction company ultimately made the difference. Many friends, past guests and CDNN readers sent letters of encouragement after hearing of Thorfinn's plight and Captain Higgs also expressed his gratitude to them. "We again personally thank all so faithful friends and past guests that have sent their prayers and well wishes for a safe return to active status," Captain Higgs said. "Perhaps their influence caused the weather to turn so fine for us yesterday with near nil ocean swells during our belated floating off process." According to Thorfinn's reservation office, the company will continue to serve divers who want to dive Truk Lagoon with Thorfinn's renowned dive guides, even as the vessel is being repaired and refurbished. The company has made arrangements to provide accommodation at a land-based facility on Chuuk and will continue its diving services with the new, high-speed RIB dive boats that whisk divers to all of the best wreck diving sites in Truk Lagoon. Asked when dive travelers can expect Thorfinn to be back in operation, Captain Higgs said he expects the repair work will take several months. "Our personal challenges are clearly focused to speedy returns to full and even more enhanced normalcy than before this incident," Captain Higgs said. "Subtle enhancements are planned with the work after racing to full and complete resurrections at a favored large repair facility...a full-on, non-stop work program is expected to have us back to full operating status at home station, Chuuk within just a few months time." © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba ForumCDNN Related NewsMICRONESIA - Bureaucracy, legal wrangling delay efforts to refloat ThorfinnMICRONESIA - Thorfinn liveaboard runs aground off Pohnpei |
