The Float‐On/Float‐Off Heavy Lift and Return Home of USS Cole

Abstract

ABSTRACTOn October 12, 2000, terrorists bombed the USS Cole (DDG 67), an Arleigh Burke class destroyer. The vessel was in the process of receiving fuel while moored alongside a dolphin in the middle of the harbor at Aden, Yemen. With no local repair facilities and a tense diplomatic situation, the badly damaged, but stable vessel had to leave Aden for repairs at another site. After a few intense days of weighing different options, handicapped with limited information, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) granted approval on October 14 to pursue a heavy lift operation. Two days later on October 16, the Navy awarded a contract voyage charter to heavy lift/dry transport the vessel to the United States on board a semi‐submersible heavy lift ship. This paper will discuss a chronology of events and the associated engineering that culminated in the successful loading off the coast of Yemen and the safe transit home of this fully armed and badly‐damaged warship. Detailed discussion will include the following: events leading up to the decision to heavy lift, preliminary engineering done in Oslo, Norway, detailed engineering done on board MV Blue Marlin, planning and execution of the loading operation, post loading and seafastening, the decision to fit a temporary patch, route planning, and the voyage home. The paper will also present the salient and unique characteristics of the Marlin class, currently the world's largest semi‐submersible heavy lift ships.