In the early hours of a Friday morning, a distress call echoed across the waters near the Shackleford Banks Marine Protected Area in North Carolina. The fishing vessel Tamara Alane had run aground, disabled due to fuel issues. With the crew safely rescued by the Coast Guard, a new challenge emerged: the vessel carried an estimated 7,000 gallons of fuel, posing a significant environmental threat to the sensitive island habitat, home to wild horses, plovers, and sea turtles.
The fishing trawler Tamara Alane beached on Shackelford Banks after being washed ashore by surf and strong winds during a storm.
As a company dedicated to providing exceptional heavy lift helicopter services, we at Fair Lifts were contacted by Global Diving, with their sister company Moran Environmental Recovery, to assist in this critical situation. The urgency was clear: the sea turtles’ egg-laying season was just weeks away, and any pollution could have devastating effects on this delicate ecosystem. We immediately mobilized a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter, a civil variant of the SH-3 Sea King military helicopter, which started readying for action within an hour of receiving the call.
Upon arrival at the scene, our pilot conducted a safety briefing with the Global Diving ground crew. We understood the importance of every move we made, not just for the success of the operation but for the preservation of the island’s ecosystem. The pilot instructed the team on the rigging process, ensuring that everyone was on the same page and ready to work efficiently and safely.
Sikorsky S-61N flying in for the heavy lift operation.
The location of the vessel presented unique challenges. Traditional methods of access were impossible due to the surf zone, and we had to be careful not to disrupt the island’s grass and sand, vital to the local wildlife. Our solution was to use a longline attached to a Sikorsky S-61N to transport equipment and fuel totes on and off the wreck site, minimizing environmental impact.
With the vessel secured by three large anchors to maintain its position, we began the defueling process. The fuel was pumped from the vessel’s tanks to 550-gallon stainless steel totes, which were then lifted by our helicopter to a staging area. From there, the fuel was transferred to a frac tank truck. Throughout the process, we conducted air monitoring and venting, ensuring the safety of our crew and the environment.
The Sikorsky S-61N during the operation with the longline attached.
Over the course of the project, we performed 58 individual lifts, removing 12,500 gallons of fuel, oily water, and equipment. The operation was a testament to our team’s skill, efficiency, and dedication to environmental preservation.
Looking back on the operation, we at Fair Lifts are proud of our role in mitigating a potential environmental crisis. We were able to respond swiftly, work efficiently, and prioritize the safety of both our crew and the environment. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Global Diving and Moran Environmental Recovery on this project, and we look forward to continuing to provide exceptional heavy lift helicopter services for them in the future.
In the face of challenges, we rise. That’s the Fair Lifts promise.