T&T Bisso Refloats Sunken Drill Barge

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. “Our salvage engineers came up with a safe and reliable method to get the job done.”

The four derrick barges, the 700-ton D/B Cappy Bisso, 600-ton D/B Lili Bisso, 550-ton D/B Big T and the 260-ton D/B Ajax, were strategically positioned around the drill rig to each apply approximately 250 tons of force. To support the derrick barges, the crane barge Bayou Chief was outfitted with two 600-ton pulling block sets. Crews connected the pulling blocks to the dry side of the drill rig and, in concert with the lifting derrick barges, righted the rig from the capsized position. The derrick barges then were reconfigured to help in the pumping process to lift the deck of the drill rig above the water.

“The operation was completed successfully and safely,” Bisso said. The rig was refloated at the site and safely towed to its owner’s base.

Formed in 2005, T&T Bisso is a stand-alone response contractor servicing the maritime, shipping and offshore energy industries. T&T Bisso combines the resources and experience of T&T Marine Salvage, which was founded in 1957, and Bisso Marine Company, founded in 1890. T&T Bisso’s worldwide response network includes firefighting systems, inert gas generators, nitrogen generators, ship-to-ship pumping and lightering systems, pulling systems and diving systems.

(www.ttbisso.com)