Bisso Marine Company News

BAE Systems joined with Mid Ocean Tanker Company (MOTC), Mid Ocean Marine and Alterna Captial Partners earlier this year to commission the American Phoenix, a U.S. Flag/Jones Act-qualified product-chemical tanker. Measuring 616 x 105 ft. with a laden draft of 36 ft. and a cargo capacity of 49,000 dwt, American Phoenix is the largest vessel ever built and launched in the State of Alabama. BAE Systems was contracted to complete construction of the American Phoenix and prepare it for use. The vessel is owned by MOTC, a joint venture between Mid Ocean Marine and private equity firm Alterna Capital Partners. The vessel will conduct trade initially in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oscar Lopez joins T&T Bisso as an Assistant Project Manager and On-Site Coordinator, bringing more than 10 years of experience in Salvage Logistics support and Project Management. After serving on active duty in the U.S. Army,  Lopez  began his maritime career as a Salvage Diver for Titan Salvage in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., quickly moving to take over the management of Titan's ocean going Jack-Up barge fleet as well as acting as On-Site Project Coordinator on international salvage operations.

T&T Bisso salvaged a 2,000-ton inland drill barge capsized by Hurricane Gustav in Southern Louisiana. T&T Bisso salvage engineers designed a method to right and refloat the inland drill barge using four derrick barges and a pull barge. “The rig sustained minimal damage from the hurricane so it was imperative that we use extreme care in salvaging the barge to mitigate further damage,” said W.A. “Beau” Bisso IV, president and chief executive officer of the company. The four derrick barges…

Bisso Marine Company, Inc., has successfully completed the salvage of the Superior Challenger. The 200-ft. Class Lift Boat sank in Eugene Island Block 193 after Hurricane Bill passed thru the Gulf Of Mexico on June 29. The vessel’s dimensions are 117 ft. in length by 68 ft. in width with a hull depth of 13 ft. in 92 feet of water. The port bow corner was extended 20 ft. above the water with a 100-ton crane exposed above the water surface. were causing the vessel to oscillate. The 140 ft. port bow leg and pad were attached and extending out below the hull.

Bisso Marine Company, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, recently lifted the 350 ton, Patrol Ship, PC1and placed her onto the bank for modifications. The PC1 is the first of fourteen Patrol Ships originally built at Bollinger Shipyards in l982 for the US Navy. The vessel has returned to her builder for modifications to her stern and for a life extension program. The new owner, the Philippine Navy will utilize the vessel to fight the war on terrorism. The 179 ft x 26 ft vessel is powered by four Paxman Diesel engines delivering l3,400 hp. The revitalized vessel is scheduled to be delivered the to Philippine Navy in January 2004.

Bisso Marine Company, Inc., heavy lift division recently loaded on to the M/V Triton Vll a 300 ft. by 60 ft. by12 ft water injection module. Bisso’s heavy lift derrick barge, LILI BISSO performed the lift. The M/V Triton Vll is owned by Heerema Marine Contractors. The module was constructed by Premier Industries of Harvey Louisiana. The module is bound for the Zafiro Producer, FPSO, in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. The 350 ton module will be used to inject water under extremely high pressure to numerous wells simultaneously to enhance oil recovery. The power source for the unit is a 7000 BHP Solar Turbine with a 3500 GPM X 2300 PSI pump.

The U.S. Coast Guard has concluded its search for five crewmen missing since their offshore supply vessel sank near Pilottown, La., Saturday, and is, as of Tuesday, February 24, overseeing recovery and salvage operations to safely remove the vessel from the Southwest Pass. The Coast Guard called off its search and rescue efforts at about 5 p.m. after a final search of the area failed to locate any survivors. Coast Guard assets have been continuously involved in the search since they arrived at the scene of the accident at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, February 21. Also assisting in the search were personnel and resources from Plaquemines Parish, the New Orleans Port Authority, the La. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Navy.

The American Salvage Association (ASA) has been urging the United States Coast Guard to move forward and promulgate critically important regulations for marine salvage and firefighting, which have been suspended three times and stalled for more than 13 years. The regulations are more important now than ever before as the nation faces the threat of terrorist incidents in the marine transport sector, be they in ports, terminals or aboard ships. While government has been working to prevent terrorist incidents from occurring, an efficient, professional, specialized response capability for marine disasters is required. Professional marine salvors often serve as first responders at the time of marine incidents, working quickly to minimize damage and expedite recovery.

The Bisso Marine Company, Inc., 700 ton Derrick Barge Cappy Bisso recently loaded out a 220 ton reactor from the M/V Star Fuji to barge in the Port of Mobile, Alabama.

Bisso Marine Company, Inc.’s heavy lift derricks the 700 ton D/B Cappy Bisso and the 250 ton D/B Ajax stacked l8 - 300 ton river barges bound for Argentina at the Port of New Orleans France Road Container Terminal Birth 5.

The Bisso Marine Company, Inc., 700 ton Derrick Barge Cappy Bisso recently loaded out a 220 ton reactor from the M/V Star Fuji to barge in the Port of Mobile, Alabama.

Bisso Marine Company, Inc. heavy lift crews recently loaded out a 620 ton booster compression module for the Mad Dog project for British Petroleum. The lift was done by Bisso’s Derrick Barge CAPPY BISSO at the Dolphin Services Fabrication yard in Houma, Louisiana.

Bisso Marine Company, Inc. heavy lift crews using the 700 ton D/B Cappy Bisso and the 600 ton D/B Lili Bisso, recently loaded out five deck sections at Houma Industries in Harvey Louisiana. The largest section weighed 725 tons. Rigging for the project was provided by Versabar of Belle Chasse, La.

Bisso Marine Company's salvage team has successfully raised and delivered OSV Bass River after six months of delays due to tropical storms, hurricans and El Niño effects on wind and sea conditions. Bass River sank March 15, 1998 in 62 ft. of water, eight miles south of the Port of Fourchon. The 180 ft. vessel was found lying upside down with the stern embedded 45 ft. below the mud line and the wheel house 30 ft. below the mud line. There was extensive damage to the vessel caused by the collision and aditional damage caused by another salvage company's prior attempt. The vessel was found with the propeller shafts broken and stern tubs pulled away from the hull in an attempt to pull the vessel out of the mud by its propeller shafts.

Bisso Marine Company, Inc., in New Orleans, has successfully completed the salvage of the 1,200 ton Gantry Ship Unloader from the Mississippi River at the IC Railmarine Terminal, Convent, La. The crane collapsed from the dock during testing procedures last June. Bisso cut the unloader into three main sections, utilizing shape charge type explosives. The sections were lifted by Bisso Marine derricks and transported to a secure lay down area on the batture behind the dock for forensic investigation. The 90 ton trolley, test weights, counterweights and other miscellaneous equipment from the crane were recovered from 80 to 135 ft. water depths by Bisso Marine divers and equipment.

Bisso Marine Company, Inc., has successfully corrected the 12 degree list of USS Drum at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, in Mobile, Ala. The list developed when the 308 ft. diesel electric submarine was driven aground during Hurricane Georges last year. The vessel had been closed to the public since the storm. Bisso Marine divers located three H-beam piles that were previous moorings for the vessel under and against the submarine. The piles were cut off four to five ft. below the natural bottom, and removed from under the sub. Derrick Barge Ajax, a salvage pump barge and tug Beau Bisso were mobilized from New Orleans for the operation. Washing mud and pumping of USS Drum's ballast tanks was coordinated with an unusually high tide to bring the vessel to an upright position.

Bisso Marine Company Inc. New Orleans, has been awarded the salvage contract to remove Nabors Offshore MODU ( Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit), Dolphin 105. The rig capsized during hurricane Lili October 2, 2002. The location of the rig is Ship Shoal 126 south of Morgan City, Louisiana.