KUO FU Salvage near Hong Kong

 On 18 December 1968, we got underway from Hong Kong and a few hours later we came upon a ship in distress, the M/V KUO FU flying the international signal meaning "I am in distress and require immediate help."

In my role as Executive Officer along with a Boatswain Mate, we were transported to the KUO FU in a rubber boat. Only one of their crew spoke some English, and he helped translate with the master of the KUO FU.  They were carrying a cargo of flour from Kaohsiung, Taiwan to Danang for the US government.  Their engines had broken down and they were unable to obtain towing assistance from civilian sources, so they requested SAFEGUARD to tow them to a safe port.  The US Navy wasn't in the business of commercial towing, but this appeared to be an emergency since the KUO FU was due east of the Communist Chinese Lema Islands and they were drifting due west.  We assured him that we would stay with them and try to get them a commercial tow.  When we were leaving their vessel to get in our life raft, one of the crew brought us a big basket of small Chinese melons.

We contacted our operational commander who later indicated that a commercial tug was on the way.  We stayed in the vicinity throughout the night, receiving messages of concern from KUO FU as they drifted closer to the Chinese islands.  Their concern was that if they drifted into Chinese Communist waters, they would be captured and may be killed.

In the morning as both of our vessels were getting closer to the Chinese islands, and hearing nothing from the tug boat that was supposedly on the way, we made the decision to tow them back toward Hong Kong where we eventually passed them on to a commercial tug boat.

We left Hong Kong and then we enjoyed those small tasty watermelons that we were given :-)

I remember that compared to a shipshape US Navy vessel, their ship was a real mess.  But, the officers and crew were very friendly.  They were scared for their lives, and they were most grateful for the help we provided them.

Helisoma Salvage Operations

As Christmas 1968 was approaching while we were in Subic Bay, Philippines, we received orders to proceed to Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam to patch, pump out, and prepare the SS Helisoma, a British Shell Oil tanker to get underway.  It had been mined by Viet Cong swimmers from an island in the bay.

Working in hole on portside

Korenia - Helisoma - Safeguard

We arrived in Nha Trang on 26 December and the operation continued until 2 January 1969.  Helisoma had been mined while at anchor by suspected Viet Cong swimmers from an island in the harbor. The following exerpt is mostly from the unclassified portions of the salvage report.

Upon arrival, Safeguard moored portside to Helisoma's port bow.  An initial survey revealed two holes in the skin of the ship - a hole 10'8" by 11'7" existed on the port side 16 feet from the bow and 3.5 feet below the waterline; a small blown out hole 10" by 17" was found on the starboard side 56 feet from the bow and 12 feet below the water line.  Helisoma's draft at this time was 36' forward and 27'5" aft; up forward, the freeboard was about 7'. The hole in the port side penetrated the port bunker tank, foreword dry cargo hold, forward cofferdam, and the number one port cargo tank which contained JP-4 fuel.  An estimated 1000 tons of JP-4/bunker fuel remained on top of water in damaged tanks and spaces.  To prevent this mixture from being discharged into the harbor, the mixture was pumped to the Dutch Shell tanker SS Korenia.

A 16' square wooden frame, steel reinforced American type patch was built and fitted by 28 December over the hole on the port side.  Pumping of uncontaminated cargo, approximately19,000 tons of JP-4 to Korenia and saltwater to Helisoma's midships tanks by 31 December.  A great New Years Eve celebration occurred, a story unto itself. 

The job was completed on 2 January and Helisoma got underway for Singapore at 1430 hours for permanent repairs.

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