The USS Oriskany (CV-34) was one of the final Essex Class aircraft carriers completed after the conclusion of WWII. She operated primarily in the Pacific into the 1970s, earning two battle stars for service in the Korean War, and five for service in the Vietnam War. After being decommissioned in 1976 it was decided to sink her as an artificial reef off the coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.
Resolve was awarded the contracted to prepare for and tow the aircraft carrier towed the vessel from Beaumont, Texas to Corpus Christi, Texas. The USS Oriskany was then completely remediated in accordance with the US Navy Statement of Work and was prepared again for tow and towed from Corpus Christi, Texas to Pensacola, Florida. In addition to providing safeguarding and security for the vessel, Resolve assisted the Navy with the sink plan. Resolve prepared heavy weather plans and set hurricane mooring conditions for the vessel. We designed the 4 point mooring system to be set at the sink site and ultimately implemented the sink plan. Resolve successfully completed all assigned phases of this work including providing safeguarding and security for the vessel.
The work crew consisted of 150+ employees to accomplish the remediation of this vessel. 512 tanks and voids were cleaned and vessel stability was maintained by ballasting tanks and voids as required. All liquid PCB’s and designated solid PCB’s were removed from the vessel as well as all floatables, hydrocarbons, exfoliating paint, etc. in accordance with Best Management Practices. As a result of Resolve’s efforts, the ex-was prepared in accordance with Navy specifications for sinking as an artificial reef. Resolve worked closely with a number of government agencies to coordinate the remediation and approval of sinking plan including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Once approved, the sink plan was successfully executed leaving the ex-Oriskany resting in 212’ of water sitting on her keel.