In Feb. 4, 1999, the New Carissa ran aground, just off Coos Bay's North Spit. At the time, 70,000 gallons of oil spilled into the ecosystem. Efforts were made to minimize additional environmental impact. Although the vessel's bow was towed out to sea and sunk; the stern remains when it ran aground, in the surf near Horsfall Beach.

Titan Salvage's plan for removal involves two barges placed near the wreck, assisting in removing portions of the ship. They are establishing a staging area on-shore for offices and supplies and to coordinate all efforts including use of a 40-foot-tall aerial transport tower that will take crews to and from the wreckage site.

Several local organizations and community leaders were insistent that the area be left open to the public. A number of hikers, tourists and birdwatchers visit the area, especially during the summer months. Surfers and surf fisherman also use it. It is a very popular area for land and water access, since the area provides numerous opportunities for outdoor activities. In addition many felt it was important to allow the public to see what is going on - it's a major undertaking and a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Timeline and Schedule – The New Carissa Removal
 
The schedule of the New Carissa wreck removal is dependent upon completion of the staging area on the dunes and coastal weather conditions. All necessary permits have been approved, and work is underway.

March 28, 2008: Barges arrived in the Coos Bay area, and are currently moored at Central Dock in Coos Bay, where local contractors are making repairs to and preparing them for being deployed to the wreck site in late-May/early June. The barges will be moved to the Sause Bros. dock in Empire later in May.

April/May 2008: The staging area and temporary bypass road is being constructed and should be completed in late May. After the wreck removal is complete, the staging area will be re-contoured and replanted, and the bypass road will be removed, a process likely taking no more than seven to 10 days after the construction transporter has been removed.

Late May/early June 2008: The barges will be placed into position during periods of calm weather. Ideally, swells should be less than three feet for positioning the barges. Once the barges are placed, the removal work will begin. A summer work period has been chosen because of typically calmer seas.

The proposed in-water and onshore work is scheduled to take approximately three months to complete. The work must be completed by Oct. 1, 2008.

Here are some amazing photos of the progress:

Recent storms have caused an amazing discovery on a Southern Oregon Coast, Ocean Beach near Coos Bay and North Bend. The sand has been washing away exposing a shipwreck from times past. No one is certain if this is part of a whole ship or a section - but people are flocking to the area to see what the Sea has exposed. We've assembled a whole cache of links and tour information below for you to explore: Stories, Photos, Videos, Blogs & a Map of the Shipwreck Location.

The wooden hulled ship buried in sand on the North Spit of Coos Bay has been identified by archeologists as the George L. Olson.

A Bureau of Land Management (BLM) archeologist, staff from Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Coos County Historical Museum, and the Maritime Heritage Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducted research over the past several weeks that included examining construction documents and historic photographs, as well as interviewing local community members in hopes of identifying the shipwreck.

This research suggests there is strong evidence that the mystery shipwreck is the steam schooner George L. Olson. Comparing historical photographs of the George L. Olson with current pictures of the shipwreck, both ships have three portholes with three chain plates aft of the portholes. The location of the Samson Post, Hawespipes, and the black vertical bumpers are identical. The pattern made by the through hull iron fasteners also appears identical.

The George L. Olson worked as a lumber carrying schooner in the Northwest for over 20 years until June 23, 1944 when it struck Coos Bay's North Jetty and drifted aground on Guano Rock inside the Coos Bay channel. There were no casualties when the ship wrecked, but the ship was declared a total loss. At the time it wrecked, the George L. Olson was loaded with about 1.4 million board feet of lumber.

Salvage of the ship's lumber cargo was conducted for the next six months. Five hundred thousand board feet of lumber recovered off of the ship was used to construct the Baptist Church in Charleston, Oregon.

In December 1944, the hulk of the George L. Olsonwas towed to sea and was cut adrift with the intention she beach on the North Spit. During the following years, build-up of the foredune in the area covered the wreck.

Photos of the Shipwreck | Photo Slide Show
Map of Shipwreck Area (PDF)
Snowy Plover Season Changes Access to Olson Shipwreck
Narrated Video (YouTube.com)
Narrated Video (kezi.com)
Travel Oregon Blog
The World Link: News Story 01
The World Link: News Story 02
The World Link: News Story 03
The World Link: News Story 04
The World Link: News Story 05

BY AIR

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Coos Aviation
Call for reservations, (541) 756-5181
www.coosaviation.com
Cost: $120 per hour for up to 3 people; $250 per hour for up to 5 people

BY SEA

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Betty Kay Charters
(541) 888-9021 or (800) 752-6303
Charter Boat Tours $35 per person, reservations are required.
Weather & tides permitting. Experience the beautiful Southern Oregon Coastline while getting an up close and personal view of the New Carissa from the Ocean.

BY LAND

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Spinreel Dune Buggy Tours
(541) 759-3313
Spinreel Dune Buggy & ATV Company will be conducting tours to the New Carissa wreckage site on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 10am to 4pm, weather permitting. It is recommended that you call first to confirm schedules.

• $25 per adult
• $10 ages 4-10yrs
• 3 and under Free

To get to the tour staging area, turn west on Trans Pacific Lane from Highway 101. Drive approximately 5 miles on Trans Pacific Lane past the BLM boat launch/day use area on the left to a large gravel parking area on the right. Information and tour sign-up table towards the back of the gravel parking lot. Calling first is recommended. Tours will be conducted Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with prior reservations, weather permitting.