BotH518web

45 / 94

May 2018 45 boatingonthehudson.com
Just finished an underwater crane salvage at Old Greenwich
Yacht Club.
Looking through the murky waters of Long Island Sound, I’m
making expanding circles with my search line.
I’m feeling quite tired and cold after 2 days working on the crane
salvage.
I quickly loaded all the equipment onto the tug boat, and off
we go. The big monster tug starts pushing the attached barge as
a monster crane is raising the spuds. The last one is out and we
are moving. Heading to another place to remove an old tug boat
engine, introduced as a “simple task”. I decided to use my large 120
cu ft. tank just in case. After about half an hour we arrived and I
hear the crane start up and dropping the spuds to bring the barge
to a complete stop. Here it is –white PVC marker supposedly to be
set right at the spot of the engine resting point. Ok tank goes on,
mask, gloves, light is on, fins and… splash. A quick descent and the
first search circle in about 20 ft. of water. There’s nothing other than
murky cold Long Island Sound water. I came up and signaled for the
search line and got about 60 ft. of line. Down again. Securing the line
to the PVC marker anchor and starting my expanding search circles. It’s a relaxing dive, hovering
over the sandy bottom, I find myself enjoying the swim. I can see the sun, until I go to the area where
the barge is shading all the light as I swim underneath it.
A few circles done and I’m at about half the length of the line. Having first doubts about the location.
Well, the dive is enjoyable.
Almost at the end, I’m scanning for anything out of the ordinary, checking sand for any debris.
Nothing yet. The line almost ends as I have 2 feet left. Here I start to see some debris-possibly
wood as I’m completing my last circle. Tying the line to the biggest piece and hovering around all of
a sudden, I see a dark spot. It looks like a huge wall. I swim about 10 feet towards it, and my
eyes are staring at the giant block-It is the engine.
I swim around having some doubts if this is truly the engine. It has been here since about 1950 and
so heavily covered with marine life that I can barely see the shape. As I’m getting on top of it, I can
see now what I assume is the exhaust manifold. I carefully circle around many times to inspect it,
checking with my hands if I can somehow get underneath it to install the rigging for the crane pick up.
There is no way to go underneath, it is at least 4 feet wide at the bottom with no space. It takes me
about half an hour to decide my rigging plan. Watching my pressure gauge, I have about half a tank
so I come up and give a signal to hoist steel cables on top of the engine. Taking another dive down
with a second diver to confirm the attaching plan. I took the battle with heavy steel cables trying to
bring them under each side of the engine, bend them somehow, and come up around to the hooks.
I’m huffing and puffing, one side is done, checking my air gauge, and going to the other side. It is
more difficult here, since the cable goes only 2 inches under the edge. I feel like I’m in a wrestling
ring, bending that steel monster, and trying to put it to the hook atop the engine, the cable is short. I
made it after several attempts. Taking a last swim around, and coming up. The crane is in my sight
and I see a few faces, awaiting some signal from me. I feel relief, floating on top of the water, raising
my hand and giving the crane signal to lift it up. It is a moment of joy and accomplishment. Im finally
getting all those piercing eyes off me and I can see relief from everyone on the barge. I swim aside,
and little by little the sea monster is coming up. It is like awakening an ancient world and bring it to
light among us. It is really big, the crane sets in on the deck of the barge, and I take a swim to the
tug boat to get out of my gear.
Almost an hour and half later, another job is done. This time with a little taste of history.
by Cpt. Diver Zdenek Ulman A Little
Taste of
History