Barge Davy Crockett Response

The Columbia River at the former site of the Davy Crockett. The vessel was fully removed from the river on August 25 and the work site cofferdam was fully removed by November 17, 2011.

View of the Davy Crockett barge in January 2011.

Davy Crockett Project Timeline (last updated 1/10/12)

Photo Gallery - (Last Updated 11/30/2011)

12/10/11 USCG Davy Crockett Mission Profile Video

SEATTLE - Authorities respond to the illegal scrap metal salvage of the flat-deck Barge Davy Crockett on the Columbia River near Camas, Wash., on Jan. 27, 2011. This comprehensive summary depicts the efforts of the more than nine month response. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

PAST INCIDENT REPORTS (PDF Format available).

INCIDENT BACKGROUND

The Washington Department Ecology received reports of oil sheen on the Columbia River near Vancouver, Wash., Jan. 27, 2011, and traced it 11 miles upstream to the 431-foot flat-deck barge Davy Crockett. Reports of sheen were reported as far as 14 miles downstream.

The vessel was partially sunk near the north shore between Vancouver and Camas, Wash., four miles upstream of the I-205 Bridge. The Davy Crockett had begun leaking oil due to improper and unpermitted salvage operations.

Response efforts began immediately to contain oil and stabilize the vessel. The Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality are jointly managing the response and salvage effort using the National Incident Management System.  

In mid-February Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert Papp authorized Coast Guard Sector Columbia River to remove and destroy the barge Davy Crockett.  In his authorization memo, Adm. Papp stated that “destruction of this vessel is appropriate to mitigate the threat of continued discharge of oil, oil water mixtures and hazardous substances into the waterway.”  

DAVY CROCKETT HISTORY

The Davy Crockett is a former Navy Liberty Ship that was converted to a flat deck barge. As with many aging vessels, ownership has changed several times over the years. The most recent ownership change is believed to have occurred in mid-2010. The vessel is located on Washington state-owned aquatic lands.

Last updated 11/23/2011

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

All activities involving the destruction and removal of the Davy Crockett were designed to minimize environmental impacts. The impermeable oil and silt barrier inside the metal cofferdam along with sorbent oil collection booms prevented tar balls and oil sheen from discharging into the Columbia River downstream of the work site. Oil containment boom was deployed outside the cofferdam as a preventative measure in case there is a release of oil from the work site. Additional on-water oil recovery resources and oil containment boom were staged nearby as further protection.

Oil, oily water and contaminated water from the vessel’s holds and tanks were collected throughout the cleanup effort and taken off-site for proper disposal. In addition, wash water from cleaning operations and stormwater collected on the Davy Crockett and work barges was put through an on-site water filtration system and then disposed of through the city of Portland’s wastewater treatment system.

Water quality samples upstream, downstream and inside the cofferdam were being collected on a periodic basis in order to evaluate the effectiveness of work activities to minimize water pollution.

Sediment samples around the Davy Crockett and inside the cofferdam were also collected periodically during the project. After the vessel was removed from the river, deconstruction debris, contaminated sediments, metal slag and scale (metal “flakes”) were removed by divers using hand-operated dredging equipment. A final set of sediment samples were collected at the conclusion of the 38-day dredging operation.