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Burned Houseboat Recovery and Marine Salvage at Wahweap Marina
Multiple Houseboats Catch Fire on Lake Powell
During the summer of 2023, multiple houseboats were damaged and destroyed by a fire at Wahweap Marina on Lake Powell for reasons that were undetermined. All vessels involved were declared total losses, with burned remains eventually sinking within the marina area. One houseboat burned down to its aluminum hull, which later submerged and became suspended approximately 30 feet underwater after folding over and becoming entangled on an underwater dock support cable between two dock arms. The vessel had originally been a 65-foot houseboat, and the remaining hull was severely compromised due to extensive fire damage. The burned aluminum structure was fragile, jagged, and structurally indeterminate, creating a complex hazard within the dock system and necessitating a highly specialized recovery solution.
Custom Crane-Assisted Burned Vessel Removal
Cross Marine Projects was retained to design and execute a specialized underwater recovery solution for the suspended burned houseboat remains. The fire-damaged aluminum hull, weighing approximately 35,000 pounds, was weakened to the point that traditional rigging methods could not be safely applied. Compounding the challenge, the hull was supported by a single ¾-inch steel cable and positioned between two dock arms within the marina’s active dock system, above deep water. Cross Marine Projects engineered a custom barge platform equipped with dual 70-ton cranes and fabricated a chain-net containment system for the underwater salvage. The barge was maneuvered into the confined dock area, and the cranes methodically positioned the net beneath the vessel. Commercial divers then worked to secure the burned remains within the net system. Once stabilized, the supporting cable was cut, allowing the vessel remains to be safely removed for transport and environmentally compliant disposal. The operation was completed in coordination with the National Park Service and with assistance from Aramark marina personnel, including adherence to invasive species control requirements.
