The saga began in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina rampaged through the Gulf of Mexico and caused major devastation to the southern US states. One of its victims was an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, whose location needed to be marked. A company called Wet Tech Energy, then based in Lafayette LA, were contracted to manufacture a buoy to mark the spot. This they did and, in 2006, the buoy, affectionately named 3372899399, was placed in position and moored.
Owen got in touch with Todd and told him the joyous news. He also contacted the local news group, Broussard-Youngsville Local News (BYLN) who relayed the tidings to the population of Louisiana
Owen, though, was worried. Storm Kathleen was about
to break on the Wexford shoreline and it was entirely possible that the sea
might try to reclaim what it regarded as rightfully her’s. Prayers were said
and a candlelight vigil took place, though it didn’t work too well in the
gale-force winds. As it happened, the storm only succeeded in pushing 399
further up the beach.
On Aprill 11th, according to their
website, BYLN met with Todd Carl, operations manager, and Paul Anderson,
vice president of operations at Wet Tech. Anderson informs BYLN that this
morning, he received a request from Aidan Bates, a dedicated marine officer
with the Wexford coastline, who is working to move the buoy. Bates has
requested a drawing of the buoy to know where the lifting eyes are, a crucial
detail for the removal process.
At
time of writing, the buoy is still there on the beach, although some lovely
person or persons has already removed the solar light from its top. Its fate
seems to be that it will be removed from the beach, whether by land or by sea.
Todd is apparently too emotionally drained to want it back and locals have been
speculating about its future. A feature on a local roundabout, perhaps? A
beachside pedestal with an information plaque? Maybe it could even be used as a
buoy?
Or,
as one local remarked, if there was another one, it would make a nice pair of
earrings.