USNS American Explorer (T-AOT-165)

USS "American Explorer" (T-AOT-165) was a tanker built for of the United States Navy. The tanker was built by Ingalls SB of Mississippi in 1958. The ship was transferred to the US Maritime Administration in 1984 and was part of the US Reserve Fleet, Beaumont Reserve Fleet, Texas. The "Explorer" was sold for scrap on July 8, 2008 to the Southern Scrap Metal Corporation in New Orleans, Louisiana. [ [http://www.pmars.imsg.com/detail.asp?Ship=203 Basic ship data - American Explorer] Property Management & Archive Record System, Division of Reserve Fleet] On August 13th, two weeks before hurricane Gustav struck the Southeastern Louisiana coastline, the tanker was moved to New Orleans' Industrial Canal. [cite web|author=Shannon Russell|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|title=Two Ships from Beaumont Fleet Sell for $1.6 Million|date=2008-07-16|accessdate=2008-09-05|format=pdf|url=http://marad.dot.gov/Headlines/2008/News%20Releases/marad%2016-08%202%20to%20southern%20scrap.pdf]

Adrift during Gustav

During the night of August 31, 2008 or early morning of September 1, 2008, as Gustav approached the coast of Louisiana, two clusters (Export Courier) of ships were dislodged from their moorings and broke free. The "American Explorer" was shown in video coverage to be one of two military vessels (along with USS Hunley (AS-31)) that ran into the Florida Avenue Bridge. [ [http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2008/09/hold_please.html Coast Guard trying to secure a barge and two vessels in the Industrial Canal] by Michelle Krupa, The Times-Picayune Monday September 01, 2008, 10:10 AM - nola.com] After hitting the bridge the ships then ran into two concrete pile-barriers that protect pump station #19 that serves the 9th ward of New Orleans. [ [http://blogs.tampabay.com/weather/2008/09/derelict-vessel.html Derelict vessels pinned down in Industrial Canal] -- Willie J. Allen Jr., Times staff writer - Posted by Times Editor at 5:29:56 PM on September 1, 2008 - Storm Watch - Tampabay.com] A US Coast Guard tug eventually pinned the ships into position so that they would not move. Joel Dupree of Southern Scrap Metal Corporation claims the Corps of Engineers were testing docks on the Industrial canal that prevented moving the ships prior to Gustav entering the Mississippi River, and that the "American Explorer" was properly anchored during the storm. [ [http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2008/09/mooring_plan_under_fire_follow.html Mooring plan under fire following Industrial Canal wreckage episode] Hurricane Gustav News and Storm Tracking - Nola.com] However, the level of the surge and winds were sufficient to break their moorings. [http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000055?v=3432690&l=3443196 Joel Dupre from Southern Scrap updates on the barges and ship that ran aground in the Industrial] New Orleans - Update on barges in Industrial Canal - Yahoo-local news] The USCG however said that it had recommended that ships double-up mooring lines prior to the storm. [ [http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2008/09/two_groups_of_ships_broke_loos.html Hurricane Gustav News and Storm Tracking] Nola.Com] Shortly after the peak of the storm reporters for a local radio station went to the Florida Avenue bridge and reported the damage as being minor.

Another naval ship, the Courier and two barges were involved in separate incidences at the Almonaster rail bridge and a pump station. As a consequence of these events "all vessels to be removed from the Industrial Canal in advance of gale-force wind conditions", and Southern Scrap Metal Corperation was told to remove all floating vessels for the duration of the
2008 season. [ [http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/09/industrial_canal_would_have_be.html Ships and barges ordered from Industrial Canal for rest of 2008 Atlantic hurricane season] "Industrial Canal would have been safe if Ike had approached, Coast Guard commander says" by Sheila Grissett, The Times-PicayuneThursday September 18, 2008, 5:57 PM Nola.com] A US Coast Guard Investigation has been launched into the corporations activies prior to Gustav. [http://www.realclearmarkets.com/news/ap/finance_business/2008/Sep/16/loose_storm_barges_in_new_orleans_from_one_company.html Loose storm barges in New Orleans from one company] The Associated Press - Sept 16th 2008] [ [http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/70-abandoned-vessels-pound-flood-walls-during-gustav 70 abandoned vessels pound flood walls during Gustav] by DrMarty September 9, 2008 at 09:13 pm, "Now Public"]

References