Coast Guard, Resolve Marine crews remove sailing vessel Obsession from reef at Flamenco Beach, prepare vessel for transport

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Coast Guard announced Resolve Marine crews are preparing the sailing vessel Obsession for transport, Wednesday, after completing the vessel’s successful removal from a reef off Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Tuesday.   Resolve Marine crews used their 400-ton shear-leg barge, 164-foot in length and 54-foot wide, to complete the removal of the 72-foot sailing catamaran.  Resolve Marine crews will conduct a second lift, Wednesday, to load the vessel Obsession to a second barge for transport to the receiving facility at Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.  “We are very pleased with the successful removal of the sailing vessel Obsession, which no longer represents a threat to the reef and sensitive area off Flamenco Beach,” said Chief Warrant Officer Jamie Testa, Federal On-Scene Coordinator Representative for the case.  “We still have ongoing sensitive work to do to ensure the vessel is patched up and ready for transport to its destination in Virgin Gorda.  We commend the efforts of the Resolve Marine crews, Mobro Marine and American Tug and Barge, Clean Harbors LLC, Sea Tow and all other supporting entities and partner agencies who have been working for the past 51 days to resolve this matter with the least impact to the reef and the sensitive marine environment.”