PHOENIX recovers mh-60s helicopter

Monday, April 9, 2007 -- Washington, DC -- Phoenix International, Inc. (Phoenix) announced the recovery of a US Navy MH-60S helicopter from 3,780 feet of water off the coast of San Diego, California. The helicopter was lost during routine exercises from USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6).

Phoenix, as the U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving’s prime contractor for underwater search and recovery operations, quickly responded to orders to mobilize equipment and crew to perform the recovery. Using the Navy’s DEEP DRONE Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), Phoenix first conducted a thorough video survey of the entire debris field, then located and retrieved the helicopter’s flight data recorder. DEEP DRONE subsequently rigged and recovered pieces of the wreckage using various lift techniques appropriate to the size and weight of each piece being recovered. The Navy’s 36 kip motion compensation system was used to safely accomplish the recovery of a 9,000 lb. assembly consisting of the helicopter’s hub, gearbox, and engines. The successful operation consisted of 9 DEEP DRONE dives and a total of 81 hours spent working on the seafloor. The entire project was conducted aboard the USNS SIOUX (T-ATF 171).

Phoenix provides manned and unmanned underwater operations, design engineering, and project management services to clients in the offshore oil & gas, defense, and other ocean-interest industries worldwide. Expertise is available from six regional offices in the areas of wet and dry hyperbaric welding, conventional and atmospheric diving, robotic systems, and tooling. Our capabilities support subsea tieback; infield development; inspection, maintenance and repair; construction; deep ocean search & recovery; and submarine rescue.

pdf version

For More Information Contact:

Phoenix International, Inc.

9301 Largo Drive West, Largo, MD, 20774 USA

Tel: +1 (301) 341-7800

Fax: + 1 (301) 499-0027
tjanaitis@phnx-international.com