On Friday evening, July 27^th, Crofton Diving received a call from a representative of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel regarding the tragic accident involving a tractor trailer and two passengers. In the middle of the night, divers made preparations for the salvage operation and arrived on site just before sunrise. Upon discovery of the tractor trailer, divers determined that the bridge had incurred no underwater damage. Crofton has a rich history of service on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, dating back to 1959 during preparations for its construction. This year, we are celebrating the 30^th anniversary of providing ongoing underwater bridge inspections at the CBBT. Thank you to Roger Belch and Eric Mullen, who worked together to coordinate the dive team who would execute the salvage. Thank you to Sam Smith (Underwater Inspection Superintendent), Jeffrey Collins, Curtis Wade, and Lewis Myers—for their commitment and responsiveness during such a challenging salvage and recovery operation. And thank you to the tub and barge crews who transported the recovered trailer. Crofton wishes to convey our deepest condolences to the families of the drivers and to those involved in the accident.

  

The recovered tractor trailer is carried to Little Creek on the 230-ton 4100 Manitowoc crane barge, pushed by the Pinners Point on July 28th. Photos by The Virginian Pilot.

 

We’ve recently added a second decompression chamber to our fleet! Certified, tested, and skid mounted in a specially designed Conex box, it’s ideal for mobilizing at a moment’s notice. And with the compressor, it is totally self-contained. The chamber, along with a new compressor, will be available for dive teams installing a series of underwater cables in the Chesapeake Bay with anticipated depths of over 100 feet of sea water (fsw). The other decompression chamber currently resides in Maryland for use in the installation of a 100’ deep cofferdam.

For almost 30 years, Scott’s Creek Marina has been adjacent to Crofton Industries and a witness to the many changes we have experienced. The marina recently closed its doors and will become home to developing plans for expansion at Crofton. Scott’s Creek Marina was home to year-round live-aboards and transient boaters alike, and could be counted on for impeccable views of the fireworks show at Harborfest. We would like to thank Bill Marslender, manager and dock master, for his dedication during his 19-year tenure at Scott’s Creek Marina. We look forward to providing more updates on our expansion in the coming months!

On June 14^th, a 22-foot motorized skiff capsized near the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel with one person aboard. Luckily, The Lady Camille was working nearby and was able to help pull the person to safety. The Lady Camille then towed the boat to the barge where she was working, where crews worked to get the capsized boat on deck. Thank you to the crew on board the Lady Camille who acted swiftly and lent a helping hand to their fellow mariner!

Tugboat rescues person after boat over-turned near Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.

 

At Crofton, we know summer has arrived when it’s time for Harborfest! We love being able to celebrate the maritime industry and history right here in our local harbor, in such an epic way! The Cromo makes an appearance every year with a fully dressed Mark V diver on deck, as well as examples of newer diving equipment so folks can see how things have evolved over the years. This year, the Pinners Point made its Harborfest debut, competing in the annual Tug Muster! Thank you to Norfolk Festevents and all the key players in the community who work so hard to promote the beauty, commerce, preservation, hard work, and history of this harbor and its maritime industries!

  

(Left) Mike Beasley and Roger Belch share their knowledge of the commercial dive industry with Harborfest attendees!

(Right) The Pinners Point (third from left) makes her Harborfest debut in the annual Tug Muster!