Burned yacht removal from water delayed by wind: Here's the latest and what to expect

KITTERY, Maine — Wind and wave conditions have delayed the salvage operation to raise and bring to shore the "TOO Elusive," a 70-foot Marlow yacht that was destroyed by fire and sank June 18 in the vicinity of the Wentworth Marina in New Castle.

Coast Gaurd Lt. Ryan Koroknay said winds were blowing nearly 20 mph in the area surrounding the wreck Thursday, and the operation likely will be rescheduled for next week.

The blaze and and the experience of the three people aboard the yacht who leaped into the water with their two dogs captured the attention of boaters and Seacoast residents. A local lobsterman lobstrman rescued them as smoke was seen for miles.

The burned yacht drifted into Maine waters, sinking under about 80 feet of water about a mile south of the K2R buoy where it has remained since, according to authorities.

“We feel comfortable that pollution is mitigated,” Koroknay said. “Our risk is very low of leaving it where it is now.”

Here's an update on Thursday’s operation call-off and a look at what boaters and interested residents can expect when it is rescheduled:

Where do salvage efforts stand after Thursday's postponement?

Beginning at first light, around 5:30 a.m., on Thursday, a crew of divers and salvage operation members headed out to the wreckage to begin work. According to Koroknay, between 15 and 20 people were out on the water helping with the operation’s beginning phase.

Ten airlift bags, which will be inflated to help the yacht rise to the surface, were rigged to the vessel. Around 9 a.m., the salvage company and divers met with the various state and regional agencies monitoring the operation to debrief on the weather and wave conditions.

“There’s just risk involved with once it's on the surface and we start moving it around,” Koroknay said of the yacht. “They just want to have good weather and good control.”

Current weather forecasts for Friday and Saturday are likely pushing back the salvage operation to next week, Koroknay said. The Coast Guard will monitor the wreckage day-by-day, though he noted there has been no change in regard to the limited fuel leakage.

“Everything is basically the same as it has been for days now. Divers have been on it. Basically it’s status quo,” he said.

The 200-yard radius around the wreckage barring boaters from approaching has officially been lifted, though Koroknay urged boaters to continue staying away from the sunken vessel. The barrier will be reinstated when the salvage operation resumes.

How are the yacht owners doing?

"It’s one of the saddest days of our lives," said Arthur "Kitt" Watson, one of the yacht owners. "We want everyone in the area to know that  we are so sorry this happened."

Kitt, 66, his wife Diane, 57, and Jarrod Tubbs, 33, their friend and longtime mate aboard the "Elusive," lost not only the yacht, but their home. They lived on the boat with their two Goldendoodle dogs, Palma and Nancy.

The family, and the dogs, escaped the inferno by jumping into the water. They were rescued by local Good Samaritans.

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What time will the yacht salvage operation happen?

Kittery Harbormaster John Brosnihan had expected it to begin Thursday, June 30 at first light, about 5:30 a.m. All agencies involved are now awaiting a new date.

"The salvage company, Riverside and Pickering Marine Contractors, have been doing prep work this week," he said. "They have had divers down and determined the position of the boat and created a plan to bring it up."

How will the yacht be moved and where will it go?

Kitt Watson contracted a local commercial salvage company to survey the wreck site and develop a salvage plan to raise the remains of the vessel and ensure any further environmental impact is mitigated.

Koroknay, public affairs official for the Coast Guard's Northern New England sector, said the yacht is estimated to weigh 110,000 pounds or less.

"That is hard to pin down because the boat caught fire," he said. "The fiberglass resin of the hull can become sponge-like when burnt, and can take on water, so there is some unknown there."

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Significant preparation is required for the salvage operation.

"Rigging, preparations have been ongoing," Kokornay said Wednesday. "Staging is happening. Cranes, barges, divers are ready to go. We will have skimmers and about 1,000 feet of boom ready to handle any release of diesel fuel. I think the plan is a good one and has considered all the contingencies we can anticipate. There are always unknowns, and hopefully we don't run into problems."

Float bags, which Brosnihan likened to giant balloons, will be attached to the yacht by divers. They will be inflated and the boat brought to the surface.

"They will float it into shallower water," Koroknay said. "Side tow barges will help with that. A crane will be used to put the boat onto a barge."

The barge will bring the "Elusive" to Riverside and Pickering Marine Contractors in Newington.

Amber Lagace, spokesperson for New Hampshire State Police, said the yacht will remain there, for now, as evidence in the ongoing investigation by New Hampshire authorities, the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Kokornay said he anticipates it will be an all-day operation.

Watson said the cost won't be known until the operation is over and he is working with his insurer on coverage.

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What is known about the yacht's position and potential fuel leaks?

According to a Maine Department of Environmental Protection statement, a hydrographic and survey team "found the remains of the vessel to be standing on its stern/transom with the bow sticking straight up. This was deemed a dangerous salvage operation due to the positioning of the wreck and associated stability concerns coupled with the depths and currents in which the divers must operate. Diesel fuel was also found to be slowly leaking and creating a light/variable sheen that was determined to be non-recoverable and was evaporating and dissipating."

Local Coast Guard vessels have continued to monitor the last known position of the vessel and due to the prevailing sea conditions, no larger sheen was immediately apparent, officials said.

On Friday, June 24, a professional dive team used a remotely operated underwater vehicle to take high resolution digital images of the wreck to determine connection points and assess the location of the fuel tanks.

The Coast Guard and Brosnihan, the Kittery harbormaster, reported seeing at one point a light diesel fuel sheen in the vicinity of the wreck site that was again determined to be non-recoverable and was evaporating and dissipating. No shoreline impact had been reported as of Wednesday.

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What should local boaters expect? A safety perimeter

Kittery sent out a notice from the harbormaster to residents, asking boaters to stay out of the water in the area during the removal. Brosnihan said it is for the safety of the divers and crews working in the area.

"There will be a 200-yard radius around the work areas at all times," Koroknay said. "There are concerns for the safety of all and we cannot have other boats trying to get close. There will be law enforcement personnel on hand, assuring the perimeter is kept secure."

Crews from the Coast Guard, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, and Maine Department of Environmental Protection continue to monitor the situation and will be on hand during the removal operation. Also involved are Maine Marine Patrol, Riverside and Pickering Marine, and US Ecology of Portsmouth, the environmental firm hired to do any cleanup if it is needed.

"This is team effort, with private, state, local and federal agencies involved," Kokornay said. "There are a lot of stakeholders, and I want to applaud the efforts of all to work together for this delicate, complex operation."

NOAA issues environmental facts on diesel fuel

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientific support coordinator provided the following diesel fuel facts to address concerns of the public:

* When spilled in open water and unconfined, most diesel will evaporate or naturally disperse within a few days. Under these conditions, there is seldom a surface oil for responders to recover. This is particularly true for typical spills from a vessel with 500-5,000 gallons, even in cold water.

* Diesel is not very sticky or viscous, compared to black oils. When small spills do strand on the shoreline, the oil tends to penetrate porous sediments quickly, but is also washed off quickly by waves and tidal flushing. Thus, shoreline cleanup may not be needed for small spills.

* Diesel fuel is a contaminant of concern due to its recognized aquatic toxicity in marine environments, however given the size of this spill and the fact that it was in open water, fish kills are very unlikely.

* Given the fact that diesel fuel dissipates quite quickly on the surface, negative impacts to birds are very unlikely as well.

Reporter Ian Lenahan contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Yacht fire: 70-footer to be pulled from water in Maine, brought to NH