F/V Phuong Mai
On August 20, 2020, USCG Sector Jacksonville received notification that the 50' Fishing Vessel Phuong Mai had run aground in the St. Mary's Inlet north of Jacksonville. The vessel posed a threat to the marine environment and was an obstruction to the passage of vessels transiting the St. Mary’s Channel.
Although Mainstream Commercial Divers, Inc. wasn't the initial responder to the project, the USCG determined Mainstream had the available assets and personnel to facilitate a much faster response.
While the F/V Phuong Mai was still on bottom, an estimated 110 gallons of mixed fuel and water was removed. Divers then installed lifting slings under the vessel's hull. With the assistance of MOBRO Marine's derrick barge, the vessel was lifted, dewatered, placed onto the barge, and transported to MOBRO marine’s yard for demolition and disposal. During a final dive survey of the underwater debris field, a second 200-gallon fuel tank was located and removed along with all other larger debris that posed a hazard to navigation.
This was truly collaborative effort between MER companies and our valued sub-contractors; Mainstream provided the Project Manager and dive team, a Salvage Master from Global Diving & Salvage joined the team from the West Coast to facilitate the lift, and a MER Environmental team from Jacksonville was on site throughout the process to perform pollution control as needed. MOBRO Marine provided expert tug and crane support.