American Divers successfully completed two large sewer outfall projects in Puerto Rico during 1979-1982 which eventually led the company to California and officially opened an office on July 4, 1982 when Bob arrived with our first tug American Spirit on a voyage from Puerto Rico to the Port of Los Angeles. We immediately started our first job, the construction of the Half Moon Bay Ocean Outfall. It was during this first year in California that the 100 year storms hit the west coast creating more work for our companies. American Workboats grew steadily between 1982 and 1989, fueled by several large projects in California, including construction of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, the San Rafael ocean outfall project and numerous pipeline construction projects in the Santa Barbra oil field. The West Coast was proving itself as a good market for these maturing businesses. As a result of the expanding marine construction support market, three primary tugs were added to the fleet. The American Contender, American Quest and American Emerald.
As stricter environmental regulations began to be implemented in the Marine industry, a decision was made to create an environmental arm to prosecute and support coastal spills and waterfront environmental needs. Pacific Environmental Corporation (PENCO) was formed to pursue these opportunities and compliment the existing marine operations.
