Book Review . . .

Stephanie Showalter, J.D., M.S.E.L.

In Peril: A Daring Decision, a Captain’s Resolve, and the Salvage that Made History

Skip Strong and Twain Braden (Lyons Press 2003)

In November 1994, Tropical Storm Gordon stalled over the Florida Keys, wreaking havoc on land and at sea. On the evening of November 14, the tug J.A. Orgeron, adrift near Bethel Shoal near Fort Pierce, Florida after experiencing engine problems, signaled the Coast Guard for assistance. When Skip Strong, captain of the 688-foot oil-tanker Cherry Valley, answered the Orgeron’s distress call he had no way of knowing that he was about to make maritime salvage history by saving the $50 million external fuel tank of the space shuttle Atlantis.
The story behind the rescue of the J.A. Orgeron and the barge Poseidon, which carried NASA’s external fuel tank, and the subsequent salvage claim by the owner and crew of the Cherry Valley springs to life in the capable hands of Skip Strong and Twain Braden. Unfortunately, after catching the reader’s attention quickly with a tense pre-trial scene, the first fifty pages of In Peril bogs down with an extraordinary amount of space devoted to the construction of the external fuel tank and the logistics of towing it from Louisiana to Cape Canaveral, which did not seem all that relevant to the rescue itself. In Peril, however, regains its momentum in Part II and quickly carries the reader along to its historic conclusion.

Although the authors assume a high level of familiarity with nautical terms and references, In Peril, with its simple style and attention to detail, places the reader right in the middle of the action. The engineers on the Cherry Valley operate at a frantic pace, the third mate is stationed in the chartroom ensuring that the Cherry Valley does not run aground on Bethel Shoal, and the captains of the Cherry Valley and the J.A. Orgeron attempt to attach lines without endangering their vessels and men while struggling with the darkness, wind, and waves.

The story of the rescue is exciting enough, but the events that take place once the vessels are safe and the attorneys get involved are fascinating. Keystone Shipping Company sought salvage rights from the owner of the J.A. Orgeron and NASA. Despite the fact that the crew of the Cherry Valley saved NASA upwards of $50 million, the federal government vigorously fought the salvage award. In the end, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals awarded Keystone $4.125 million – the largest maritime salvage award in U.S. history. The crew received $1,752,642, what remained after paying interest, costs, and Keystone’s 63 percent share.

In Peril contains eight pages of photographs, illustrations, and maps, including nautical charts identifying the position of the Cherry Valley and the Orgeron during the rescue and tow. One page of diagrams detailing the actual rescue is especially helpful for landlubbers unable to visualize the rescue maneuvers from words alone. Thoroughly enjoyable, In Peril is an excellent selection for adrenaline junkies, history buffs, maritime lawyers, and for anyone curious about what really goes on during daring sea rescues.