Southern Recycling Drifting Dry Dock; Gulf of Mexico off LA

Gulf of Mexico off LA | 2012-Aug-28

Initial Notification: On 28Aug12, USCG Sector New Orleans contacted the NOAA SSC for a trajectory for a drifting floating dry dock, 650'long x 137'wide. Dry dock is owned by Southern Recycling, who was towing it to a "breaking yard" when the tow cable parted. Draft of the dry dock is reported as 7', and height of the wing walls is estimated as 35' (based on discussion with a Tampa dry dock company). Below are the last known positions and drift speed and direction from 27 AUG. 1430 pos'n: 27-57.478 089-43.403W, Course 220T, 3kts (radar) 1630 pos'n: 27-41N 089-56W, Course 220T, 4kts (radar) 2030 pos'n: 27-34N 090-08W, Course 220T, 4kts (DR) 2230 pos'n: 27-30N 090-13W, Wind NNE 35-40kts (DR)