New Carissa down to final pieces

By Associated Press Published: Sep 23, 2008 at 3:52 PM PST Last Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 1:43 AM PST
New Carissa down to final pieces »Play Video
Titan Salvage Master Shelby Harris takes a last look at the last piece of the New Carissa to hang from three chains and the pullers as the sun sets on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008 in Coos Bay, Ore. (AP Photo/The World, Susan Chambers)

COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) - Salvage crews have lifted the final big piece of the New Carissa shipwreck out of the sand on a beach near Coos Bay.

The Titan Salvage crew hoped to cut up the 170- to 200-ton chunk of the wreckage, believed to be the aft part of the engine, and load the pieces onto a barge by Wednesday, when the forecast is for rough weather.

Officials of the Florida-based company said three small metal pieces remain underwater, and divers will try to reach those when the weather improves.

The wood chip freighter ran aground in February 1999 and broke apart, leaving about half of the ship stuck in the sand on a beach near Coos Bay.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Gene LaRochelle, aka YouNews reporter CoosGene1, shared the following series of photographs taken during the deconstruction of the New Carissa. LaRochelle was aided in the project by Ron Shaw. Scroll down for over 30 images of the New Carissa project, then click here to see more of CoosGene1's images.