Former Navy Torpedo Recovery Vessel Extracted from South Carolina Marsh

A contractor working for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has successfully extracted a former U.S. Navy torpedo recovery vessel from a marsh outside of Charleston, South Carolina. This marks the first boat to be recovered under the state’s new statute on vessel abandonment.

Four years ago, Mohamad “Sam” Kodaimati purchased the torpedo retriever TWR-841 from a surplus auction for $86,000. The 120-foot vessel, originally built for torpedo research and development at Naval UnderSea Warfare Center Newport in 1986, was decommissioned in 2019. Kodaimati renamed the vessel Hazar and attempted to relocate it, but encountered issues along the way.

After being cited for hazardous conditions and unsafe operation while in New York, Hazar eventually made its way to Charleston, where it was ordered not to operate due to lacking appropriate federal documentation. The vessel ended up settling at the bottom of Bohicket Creek, prompting complaints from residents about environmental hazards and eyesores.

Responding to public concerns, South Carolina’s legislature passed a new law earlier this year to address abandoned vessels. This legislation paved the way for the removal of Hazar, which had become a persistent problem in the area.

Stevens Towing Company was contracted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to extract Hazar from the creek. The wreck was successfully refloated, pumped out, and transported to a nearby boat yard for disposal. The fate of the vessel, whether it will be reefed or scrapped, is yet to be determined.

Furthermore, the new law also led to the arrest of Kodaimati, who now faces charges of abandoning a watercraft. If convicted, he could be subject to significant fines and may be required to pay restitution for the state’s removal costs, which exceeded $200,000.