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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phoenix supports recovery of artifacts from civil war ship, uss WestfieldFriday, January 29, 2010 -- Washington, DC -- Phoenix International Holdings, Inc. (Phoenix) announced the successful conclusion of its support of a historical marine archaeological project on the Civil War shipwreck, USS WESTFIELD, lying in the Texas City Ship Channel in Galveston Bay. The planned deepening of the Texas City Ship Channel necessitated the project. Phoenix was responsible for providing a detailed site survey of WESTFIELD’s resting place, all diving operations and navigation/positioning services. Phoenix personnel integrated established archaeological approaches and methodologies into its operational procedures for rigging and recovering the larger artifacts of interest which included a bearing block, firebox, and one 10,000 lb. Dahlgren cannon. On 12 November 2009, Phoenix mobilized to provide the remote sensing survey needed to develop an accurate site map. From 16-26 November, Phoenix divers were involved in investigating, identifying, and recovering a number of historical items in strict accordance with federal and state archaeological standards. Precise navigation/positioning services supporting dredging operations continued until 15 December to recover smaller artifacts. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, directed the project. Phoenix’s services were contracted through the U.S. Navy’s Office of the Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), and included cooperation with the Naval History and Heritage Command. Phoenix is SUPSALV’s prime contractor for worldwide search and recovery services. USS WESTFIELD was commissioned January 1862, and assigned to support naval blockading operations along the lower Mississippi and Texas coast. On 4 October 1862, WESTFIELD participated in a successful Union assault on Galveston, Texas. While Confederate naval forces were recapturing Galveston on 1 January 1863, WESTFIELD ran aground. To avoid its capture, WESTFIELD’s Commanding Officer ordered the igniting of the ship’s magazine, but the vessel exploded prematurely, killing him and a boat crew. Phoenix provides manned and unmanned underwater operations, design engineering, and project management services to clients in the offshore oil & gas, defense, and other ocean-interest industries worldwide. Expertise is available from six regional offices in the areas of wet and dry hyperbaric welding, conventional and atmospheric diving, robotic systems, and tooling. Our capabilities support subsea tieback; underwater inspection, maintenance and repair; construction; deep ocean search & recovery; and submarine rescue.
For More Information Contact: Phoenix International Holdings, Inc. 9301 Largo Drive West, Largo, MD, 20774 USA Tel: +1 (301) 341-7800 Fax: +
1 (301) 499-0027 |
