First the Band-Aids Whichever method Navy officials decide upon in Yemen, Kiss and Lindberg say basic repairs will need to be done on site first. And that work will most likely involve both surface and underwater repair crews. Then after the assessment, they'll need to use steel to provide any substantial support. Salvage crews are already on site at the Aden port location and other crews are expected to arrive early next week. Lindberg estimates that, in addition to surface crews, at least 16 divers will be needed to carry out the on-site repair job.
Underwater welding requires an enormous amount of skill.
To repair the Roberts, workers constructed entirely new, fully equipped replacements for the ship's engine and machinery rooms. Then the damaged parts were cut out of the ship and the new parts welded in. Kiss believes the Cole will require a similar facelift. Such a repair is costly and elaborate, but Kiss emphasizes that the Navy is fortunate the vessel is salvageable at all. Things can only get better from here on in for the Cole.