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Survey Boat Clark repaired at Corps’ Ensley Engineer Yard

Published Aug. 30, 2019
IN THE PHOTO, from left to right, are Cory Roberts (Electrician Leaderman), Joseph "Clay" Hurt (Carpenter), Mikel "Buck" Buchanan (Marine Mechanic), Kevin Woods (Chief of Plant Section), Chris Reger (Rock Island District Dredge Coordinator), and Marvin Roddy (Chief of Shops Unit).

IN THE PHOTO, from left to right, are Cory Roberts (Electrician Leaderman), Joseph "Clay" Hurt (Carpenter), Mikel "Buck" Buchanan (Marine Mechanic), Kevin Woods (Chief of Plant Section), Chris Reger (Rock Island District Dredge Coordinator), and Marvin Roddy (Chief of Shops Unit).

Survey Boat Clark after taking on water.

Survey Boat Clark after taking on water.

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A small army of skilled workers is completing work on the Rock Island District’s Survey Boat Clark after divers recovered it from a watery grave. Here’s what happened.

Earlier this year, the crew operated the new survey boat as usual, performing their survey work. At the end of the work week, they tied up the Clark as usual and left for the weekend. However, the river rose several feet during this time. The mooring lines held the boat so firmly in place that water was able to seep through leaky deck hatches, flooding and sinking the boat.

Divers were later able to raise the Clark with inflatable bladders but the damage was extensive. Wiring, controls, electronic systems, engines, and interior furnishings all suffered significant damage.

When officials at the Rock Island District contacted the boat’s manufacturer about repairs, the company quoted them a price of $480,000. That was more than half of the original construction cost of $670,000. On top of that, they wouldn’t be able to begin repairs for at least six months.

“The staff at the Rock Island District then contacted our Plant Section at Ensley Engineer Yard to ask if we could take on the job,” Kevin Woods, Plant Section chief said. “Our enthusiastic answer was … YES!”

In addition to taking on this challenging job, planners at Ensley Engineer Yard determined they could complete the work much more quickly and at a fraction of the cost quoted by the manufacturer.

“The cost estimate from Plant Section was $154,000,” Woods said. “With the last few items being finished and costs being finalized, we will complete this project thousands of dollars below our estimate even with the additional safety modifications that were added to the project scope.”

The Clark arrived at Ensley Engineer Yard on April 16. Workers set about the task of completely gutting the vessel down to the frame. They then essentially rebuilt the boat from the keel up. They also took advantage of the time to work in some modifications and upgrades, including a fix to the leaky hatches, and a custom fabricated front deck splash guard to protect the boat from large wakes and waves.

As of this writing the Clark is still at Ensley Engineer Yard.

“We don’t have an estimated departure date yet because additional items have been approved by the customer and we are beginning work on them now,” Woods said.

This work on the Clark is just one of the ways the District's Operations Division is leveraging its world-class Ensley Engineer Yard team and their capabilities to establish it as the Marine Maintenance Facility of choice, offering services to wide variety of organizations.

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