On October 27 and 28, 2010, Ocean and Coastal Consultants, Inc. (OCC) performed a survey of the USS Becuna's hull and adjacent port side timber dolphins at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, PA. The USS Becuna (SS/AGSS-319), a 66 year old BALAO-class submarine, is also a National Historic Landmark. Launched on January 30, 1944, the USS Becuna currently measures 307.6 feet long by 27.3 feet beam and draws a 17 feet draft with 1,830 tons displaced when surfaced. The USS Becuna was decommissioned on November 7, 1969 and has since had through-hull blanking plates installed upon all flooding and utility holes located throughout the hull. The dive planes and rudder have been permanently fixed in position, and the forward and aft torpedo doors have all been permanently shut.
OCC performed an underwater video survey of the submarine dive plane, rudder and hull with representative ultrasonic thicknesses (UT) measurements of the blanking plates. A survey was also completed of the two adjacent timber pile dolphins. Inspection diving operations were conducted using a 3-man crew of engineer-divers with surface-supplied air diving equipment and continuous communications and video staged from a large van located on the adjacent relieving platform.
OCC continues to use its expertise in surveys and underwater inspections to prove itself as a valuable resource in the maritime industry. OCC is looking forward to being a part of many new and exciting underwater projects coming up in 2011!
For more information, please contact Ronnie Munoz, EIT at romu@ocean-coastal.com.
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