LAPUSH — The Coast Guard and Army removed an 11,800-pound buoy off a beach near the mouth of the Quillayute River at LaPush this week.
The buoy had washed ashore after it broke free from its mooring during a winter storm in 2010, said Petty Officer Zac Crawford, Coast Guard spokesman.
Planning efforts for Monday’s buoy removal were coordinated by Coast Guard cutter Fir, a buoy tender stationed in Astoria, Ore., and the 13th Coast Guard District Aids to Navigation division in Astoria, Crawford said.
“They had tried to get it out once before,” Crawford said, “but because of the weather, they couldn’t.”
The effort was made Monday because “I think they just wanted to give it another shot,” Crawford said.
“It was an extremely well-coordinated effort between both parties and the locals” — the Quileute tribe — “to complete the mission effortlessly,” said Doug Cameron, 13th District Aids to Navigation hardware manager and shore team leader.
Custom rigging was developed specifically for the hoist to meet lifting requirements for the Army Chinook helicopter from Bravo Company, 214th General Support Aviation Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
After the buoy was removed from the beach, it was lowered into the water in close proximity of the Fir, which was standing by to recover it about 500 yards off shore.
The Fir took the buoy to the Aid to Navigation team in Astoria to be refurbished.
For more information, and photos, click on http://www.d13.uscgnews.com/go/doc/21/1181507/.
