Catala home > Cleanup Progress > October 2006

Cleanup Progress Report - October 2006

Update Information: The steel wall enclosing all four sides of the Catala was completed in late September. Contractors has gained access to four of five tanks in the hull. These four tanks have been emptied and cleaned. Oil sludge that coated much of the inside of the hull has been cleaned off.

The site will be closed down for the winter on October 17th by removing all equipment, vehicles and supplies. The pump that has been removing water from inside the steel wall will be shut off and the hull will be covered with water to help keep it stable. The site will be monitored on a routine basis and after storms.

Related Information: A security fence will be installed on top of the steel wall. An interpretive sign posted in the Damon Point State Park parking lot will provide information on what the ship looked like prior to flooding with water. The public is asked to not attempt to get inside the steel wall because it is unsafe; there are no artifacts remaining in the ship.

Oil removal efforts will begin again next summer. This will involve pumping water down to a level low enough that workers can reach the stern tank, remove any oil remaining and clean the tank. The Washington Department of Natural Resources will seek funding to remove the remaining hull from Damon Point. The removal of the hull will be coordinated with Ecology's oil removal project to minimize any contamination of water or sand and impacts to the bird habitat.

Artifacts recovered from the ship include two posts from the grand stair way, a wooden door, and a small anchor. These have been donated to the Ocean Shores Interpretive Center and may be seen at some time in 2007. The Ocean Shores Interpretive Center has obtained many artifacts from the SS Catala over the years from various donors. These are on display at the Center during normal visiting hours. The location and hours of operation may be obtained from: http://www.oceanshoresinterpretivecenter.com/

Amount of Oil Recovered: As of October 4th, the following amounts of oil and contaminated materials have been removed from the Catala:

• 24,500 gallons of heavy fuel oil recovered; sent to a waste oil processing facility for recycling in to other industrial fuels
• 1,358 cubic yards of sand contaminated with oil removed and shipped for disposal in a landfill
• 1,382 cubic yards of clean sand stock piled on site for use in restoring the site
• Over 290,000 gallons of water contaminated with oil (includes the 25,000 gallons of oil recovered) shipped off site for treatment

View from the bow of the Catala. The steel wall enclosing the hull is clearly visible. In October 2006, pumps will be shut off and the hull will be flooded with sea water. The site will be routinely monitored and any floating oil will be cleaned up.
(Oct. 4, 2006)

This worker is cleaning oily sludge that was caked on the walls and decks of the Catala. This area of the ship is where the steam engines were located. It is speculated that the engines were removed in British Columbia before the Catala came to the Ocean Shores via Seattle.
(Oct. 4, 2006)

Steering gear for operating the rudder of the Catala.
(Oct. 4, 2006)

From stern looking toward the bow. Workers have removed sand covering the hull and cut away overhanging decks. These areas will be flooded with sea water during the winter.
(Oct. 4, 2006)

Over 2,600 tons of sand have been removed from on top of the hull of the Catala. This plus teh weight of oil and water removed from tanks have resulted in the hull actually rising up as much as 16 inches fromt eh sand. To control this movement, the clean tanks fave been re-filled with sea water and the top of the hull flooded with water.

The water that remains on top of the tanks will be quite rusty looking and will likely have some oil sheen and tar balls as oil escapes from hidden pockets. Several barriers will be in place to keep oil from getting into Grays Harbor, including: the walls of the hull, oil absorbing pads and the steel wall of driven sheet pile.
(Oct. 4, 2006)