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Navy Salvage and Diving Teams Assist in Shuttle Columbia Recovery

Story Number: NNS030224-01
Release Date: 2/24/2003 7:05:00 PM

By Lt. John Daniels, Navy Office of Information Southwest

LUFKIN, Texas (NNS) -- As the search for remnants of the Space Shuttle Columbia continue, Navy salvage and dive teams are now on scene to provide assistance searching several lakes in this region of Texas that is normally known only to avid fishermen. The Navy's presence in this extensive effort could aide in finding clues that could bring closure to this national tragedy.

Agencies from all levels of federal, state and local governments, as well as numerous civilian organizations and volunteers, have joined together in efforts to recover material from Space Shuttle Columbia that tragically came apart over the skies of Texas Feb. 1.

Significant and very thorough methods are being used to search an approximately 240-mile by 10-mile path believed to contain shuttle material. Since much of the search area contains lakes, rivers and reservoirs, the Navy was requested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist in salvage and diving operations.

"Due to the scope and complexity of the diving environment, it appropriate for the Navy to come in," said Capt. Jim Wilkins, supervisor of salvage and diving.

Using divers from Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Team 2 from Norfolk, Va., and Naval Reservists form Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, Detachment 409, from Cleveland, the Navy is the lead agent in the underwater search and recovery efforts. Augmenting these efforts are divers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Department of Public Safety, Houston Police Department and Galveston Police Department.

"Before the Navy showed up, many of these agencies were already on scene and did an excellent job establishing the initial operations," said Wilkins. Also on scene are civilian contractors that operate and analyze data from side-scan sonar being used to map dive sites, and identify and locate potential shuttle material for the divers to recover.

Though Navy divers are accustomed to working in the most arduous conditions, they are quickly discovering that diving in a forested, flooded reservoir is one of the most difficult environments they have yet encountered. "We are rewriting the book on Navy diving operations," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Roger Riendeau, officer in charge of the Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 detachments.

Other members of the team agree.

"Working in an environment with trees and stumps is not like working in the ocean, and not what our equipment is designed for," said Damage Controlman 1st Class (DV) Alex Tumaniszwili. "However, we have a mission, and we're constantly working on ways to adapt our techniques and work in this environment."

Even with these difficult conditions, their leadership has faith and confidence that they will accomplish the mission.

"After the initial survey, it was apparent that the world's best divers would be required to accomplish the mission," said Wilkins, "and the mobile diving and salvage units, and other agencies responded - in spite of current taskings and requirements in other parts of the world."

Diving operations are expected to continue through at least mid-March.