Capt. Baumann visits Georgia

SAVANNAH, GA, UNITED STATES

07.24.2015

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesse Hyatt 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - (Reserve)

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Capt. Gregg W. Baumann, director of ocean engineering at Navy's Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) visited the salvage operation of the Civil War-era ironclad CSS Georgia in Savannah River Friday, July 24.

In partnership with Navy divers and explosive ordnance disposal technicians, Army Corps of Engineers, and civilian contractors, SUPSALV is providing vital salvage assistance to recover historical artifacts from the wreckage of Georgia.

"In addition to our personnel, we have unique equipment capabilities through our East Coast salvage contractor, Donjon Marine, and access to highly trained divers from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Six and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two," said Rick Thiel, SUPSALV program manager. "To support a project of this magnitude, two barges are on site, one to serve as a diving and equipment platform and one to support artifact storage, sorting and transport. Our expertise allows us locate and safely recover artifacts and unexploded ordnance in such challenging conditions."

Baumann not only visited the salvage site to see how the job is going, but to be the spokesperson for SUPSALV at the “Raise the Wreck Festival” at historic Old Fort Jackson July 25.

Not only the go-to source for diving and salvage within the Department of the Navy and Department of Defense, but also the Federal government, SUPSALV sees its share of unique jobs. The Georgia stands out as a significant event for its historical content.

“This is history right here,” said Baumann. “How many times are you going to go salvage an ironclad warship? To bring tangible history back to people and put it in museum to view is important.”

Georgia must be removed completely to make way for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, or SHEP, a beneficial and commerce-boosting project to allow larger ships to use the Port of Savannah.

“The SHEP will create economic opportunity not only across Georgia, but throughout the Southeast,” said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. “We’re grateful for our federal partners and their efforts thus far and will continue to work with them to ensure that their commitment is fully funded and reflects the importance of this project to the nation.”

For more news from SUPSALV, visit www.supsalv.org/.

For more news from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2, visit www.navy.mil/local/eod2/.

For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element, East, visit www.navy.mil/local/pacennorfolk/.

• Date Taken: 07.24.2015
• Date Posted: 07.26.2015 16:03
• Story ID: 171159
• Location: SAVANNAH, GA, US