After months of planning between the Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) Coos Bay, Ore., and Mr. Cameron, the District 13 Aids to Navigation Hardware Manager, the task of replacing the old collision tolerant pile (CTP) damaged by the December 2007 storm was accomplished.
Calm weather, parts and resources came together to allow us to tackle the removal of wreckage and installation of the replacement CTP, 3/4 of a nautical mile from shore, on the jetty tip.
The project was planned to take two days. The first day was used to prepare the wreckage for helicopter removal and to ready the foundation for installation on the next day.
Once on scene heavy fog prevented the Air Station North Bend, Ore., helicopter crew from being able to stage tools and equipment on the Jetty. Undaunted by the setback and with mild temperature, calm winds and a flat sea state, the eight members from the ANT set forth in tediously hiking out over 500 lbs of gear and equipment to the aid site. No small feat considering it's greater than a mile to hike one way over guano covered jetty rocks that isn't made for foot traffic. After safely making the transit we then set about cutting and staging over 5,000 lbs of CTP wreckage for hoisting on Friday by a helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria, Ore., and to prepare the foundation for installation of the new CTP.
Friday's hoist operations went off without a hitch and the aid was left ready to withstand the next 100-year-storm.
A local fisherman, and veteran who had been out on the jetty observing both days, summed it up well as we passed him on the way in. "That was the most amazing feat I've ever seen with so little people involved"
Senior Chief Petty Officer Eric P. Smith
Officer in Charge
ANT Coos Bay
(541) 888-3441
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