Keith Dowling News

By Lt. Cmdr. The “Heavy Lifters” of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 responded to a request Jan. 19 from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to provide assistance to the Chinese-flagged motor vessel (M/V) Tong Cheng when it reported hull damage and progressive flooding. According to Tong Cheng's initial report, the ship had sustained hull damage, and that the condition had progressed to a point where the ship and her 26 crew were in jeopardy. The Tong Cheng also reported that she was carrying a load of over 140,000 gallons of petroleum products that if released had the potential to cause damage to Hawaiian waters. Navy Divers from MDSU 1, with the help of translators, completed an open ocean, underwater hull survey.