USA: SUPSALV Helps San Francisco Port Remove WWII-Era Dry Dock

The supervisor of salvage and diving (SUPSALV) coordinated with the Port of San Francisco to remove a World War II-era dry dock, Naval Sea Systems Command announced Aug. 15.

The 610-foot long dry dock, owned by the Port of San Francisco, was built in 1942 for the U.S. Navy to repair ships during World War II and has been unused and rusting for years.

 “The port had been looking for a way to remove the dry dock from the harbor and in 2009, Congress appropriated $3 million to assist with preparations to scrap the dry dock,” said Capt. Mark Matthews, supervisor of salvage and diving. “As the Navy’s salvage expert, the Secretary of Defense tasked us to assist with the planning and removal.”

The funds available would not pay for the total cost to scrap the dry dock, but covered the engineering work, environmental permitting process and the removal of two end sections that reduced the total scope of the remaining scrapping job to a more simplified and affordable one.

Work began in June and lasted about 12 weeks. SUPSALV efforts included preparing the site for dismantling and removal of the two end sections, reducing the dry dock to 410 feet and enabling the remaining portion of the dry dock to be sold and transported for scrapping.

SUPSALV will continue to provide advice on dry dock center section as requested by the Port of San Francisco.

The Office of the Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving is part of the Naval Sea Systems Command and is responsible for all aspects of ocean engineering, including salvage, in-water ship repair, contracting, towing, diving safety and equipment maintenance and procurement.

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Press Release, August 16, 2013; Image: Port of San Francisco