Page 19: of Marine News Magazine (May 2025)

18 20

Feature

Xenos Marine ne of the most powerful heavy-lift vessels ever Versabar during the development of the Bottom Feeder, lat- built is entering a new chapter under U.S. er managing operations for the VB-10000 through years of ownership, reconditioned for major offshore decommissioning and salvage campaigns. One of the most

O work in the Gulf of America. Renamed the notable was the removal of the Golden Ray car carrier from

TX-10000, this twin-gantry catamaran is at the center of the St. Simons Sound in Georgia—a complex project that

Xenos Marine’s mission to expand domestic heavy-lift and required slicing the 700-ft. shipwreck into eight sections decommissioning capabilities, following a major re? t at weighing up to 8,000 tons, using massive mooring chains

Gulf Copper Ship Repair. as cutting tools.

The TX-10000, previously known as the VB-10000, That collaboration between Versabar and T&T Salvage has a storied history. Originally commissioned in 2010 by laid the groundwork for the current partnership. When

Versabar as a next-generation evolution of the pioneering the opportunity arose to acquire the vessel from its in-

Bottom Feeder, the vessel was purpose-built for offshore de- terim owner, Fish and Teichman joined forces to launch commissioning and salvage in the aftermath of destructive Xenos Marine, with a mission to restore the TX-10000

Gulf hurricanes. With a lifting capacity of 10,000 tons (lim- to full operating strength and reintroduce it to the U.S. ited in practice to 7,500 tons due to buoyancy), dynamic offshore market.

positioning to DP3 standards, and towering hook height of nearly 200 feet, the TX-10000 quickly became a unique as- OVERHAUL @ GULF COPPER set in U.S. waters. Now, under the new banner of Xenos One of the ? rst moves under new ownership was to

Marine — a partnership between longtime marine heavy- begin an extensive overhaul at Gulf Copper Ship Repair lift specialist Matt Fish and T&T Salvage’s Kevin Teichman in Galveston, Texas. The vessel, now 15 years old, was — the vessel is poised to play a key role in Gulf of Mexico overdue for its mandatory ? ve-year special survey, and operations once again. Xenos Marine acted quickly to secure drydock space and initiate repairs.

A FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT Gulf Copper handled steel and hull work, blasting and

For Matt Fish, Managing Director of Xenos Marine, the coating, and installed cathodic protection. Meanwhile, Xe- relaunch of the TX-10,000 represents both a personal and nos Marine launched a parallel refurbishment campaign professional milestone. Fish began his offshore career with that extended to nearly every critical system aboard.