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.

Selected articles