SITE OF THE NEW CARISSA — Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski was in for a treat Friday.

He hadn’t seen the New Carissa since he’d flown over it in a helicopter years before.

Kulongoski and his staff, along with Department of State Lands Director Louise Solliday, hopped in a Spinreel Dune Buggy and ATV Rental truck and braved the cold summer wind and bumpy sand road to visit the wreck. They first signed in at the Titan Salvage offices set up on the foredune, donned safety gear and rode the cable car to the Karlissa A barge.

“They actually think they’ll be able to get it out,” Kulongoski said upon his arrival back at the main parking lot. “It’s better than I ever expected.”

By Friday, most of the shipwreck structure above the sand is nearly gone. The stern wall still rises above the tide, in part to protect workers from the sea. Titan Managing Director David Parrot said earlier in the week he expected to start pulling the wreck from the sand soon — as early as next week.

“I never would have thought they’d get it out of the sand,” Kulongoski said. “I thought it was here forever.”

 — Staff Writer Susan Chambers