T&T Salvage Saves Galveston Beach from Tug and Barge Grounding

GALVESTON — T&T Salvage was called upon to respond to a disabled 700-foot long integrated tug and barge which had become separated due to heavy seas on the afternoon of Saturday, April 29th.

The incident was first reported roughly three nautical miles off the Galveston Island Pleasure Pier, posing a major threat to one of the island’s most populous beach areas. In an attempt to prevent the barge from drifting closer to shore, crew members quickly deployed the barge’s anchoring system; however, the sea conditions prohibited the anchor from holding. Additionally, during attempts to prevent the barge from going ashore, one of the propellers of the ITB tug became fouled with the tow wire.

The vessel’s response plan was quickly activated and T&T Salvage was called upon to render assistance. T&T’s response partner, G&H Towing, mobilized three tugs to the scene to gain control of the adrift barge and began towing it away from Galveston Beach. T&T’s supply vessel HOLT T, was dispatched soon after to transport a salvage team and additional salvage gear to offer further assistance to the disabled vessels. With severe weather ahead, the vessel crew and salvage team were challenged with seas upwards of 12ft and 40+ knot winds. “Our divers conducted an underwater assessment and survey, where we were able to identify that not only had the starboard prop been fouled by the tow wire, but rope was also bound tightly around the port wheel” said Kevin Teichman, owner of T&T Salvage.

In close coordination with Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Texas City and the vessel’s owner, T&T immediately developed a salvage plan to free the propellers from the lines and deliver the tug and barge safely into port. The operation was successfully concluded on Monday, May 1st. In commending the salvors for their efforts, the Commanding Officer of MSU Texas City stated, “Given the circumstances and offshore conditions, it was no small feat to regain control and render assistance to the vessels, ultimately keeping them both from nearing one of the most populated sections of Galveston Beach.”

As a nationally recognized Salvage and Marine Firefighting provider under the OPA-90 regulations, T&T Salvage has a long history of protecting the delicate shores of the United States. In 2016, the salvage company conducted over eight emergency response operations within the Gulf Region alone, including the refloating of a sunken inland tug in the San Jacinto River.

About T&T Salvage, LLC

T&T Salvage, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Teichman Group. With over 40 locations in the United States and its territories, operational bases in South America, Europe and Asia, the Teichman Group has strategically positioned offices and alliances across the global to provide a full range of maritime services and emergency response solutions. T&T owns state of the art portable emergency response equipment capable of being dispatched anywhere is the world on a moment’s notice, including but not limited to dewatering pumps, oil spill response equipment, marine firefighting pumps and foam, diving and subsea systems, and more. For more information, visit www.teichmangroup.com.