Where Next?
A crucial spare finally arrives and departure is scheduled…
WEDNESDAY, 04.01.09
0036: Interlude (Yesterday, March 31)
The view from our tie-up in Pago Pago Harbor features the largest tuna canneries in the world.
We are tied up at the main pier in American Samoa and have been unable to make our departure time, originally slated for this evening. All of the work that has gone down in the past couple days has been successful, but we are missing one crucial item of equipment that was sent from Harbor Branch to the agent here. The critical part is a hydraulic pump and as the ship is currently down to only one functional pump, this is a needed spare. A loss of the remaining pump would cost us the ability to run the cranes. Just as importantly, the ship’s hydraulics serve as a spare should the AUV system hydraulic power unit (HPU) fail. We will need this part in order to depart.
All of the groceries were delivered today, and the AUV teams checked and re-checked the vehicles. All seems well in that department. The only remaining piece of work to be done is to have a pump truck come out and clear the ships bilges; that will take place tomorrow morning. We hope to have the hydraulic pump tomorrow, but I wish I was more confident about that.
I should have a nice, easy day tomorrow so I will try and write a bit more about life on the island, and how the crew is spending their spare time. Right now, I am going to get to bed early and try and keep a normal schedule while the work load permits.
1624: Looks Like We May Get Underway Tonight
It looks like our part is on the island and we are scrambling to get it by this afternoon. The majority of the crew is lined up to have an Umu feast at Tisa’s Barefoot Bar, which has definitely been the hang-out this trip. The weather is currently blowing 40 knots (that’s what the Beaufort wind scale would call a gale force wind), and we are hoping for it to calm some by this evening. We will let the crew do the Umu and have set a departure time for 2030 hours local tonight. Fingers crossed and keep a happy thought. It’s gonna be a rough ride out of here no matter how you cut it.
Tisa oversees the earthen-oven cooking that is the hallmark of an Umu Feast.
During the Umu at Tisa's, the crew went totally native. No palm frond plates, just a palm frond tablecloth.
1705: From Andy Sherrell to Ted Waitt
I attached a chart with some areas that have been discussed as a base for where we go next. Our first step is to determine how many boxes we will cover over a 37-day mission.
Assumption: The remaining set of 75 kHz transducers fail, leaving us with two 120 kHz systems at 450-meter range, versus 600 meters. This gives us an average coverage rate of 21 square nautical miles per day at the overall rate achieved during Leg 1.This equals 28 boxes. If the vehicles work optimally (no breakdowns or aborts), we are running an average of 27-hour turnarounds on the vehicles. This would equal 50 boxes.
I think we should base our expected results to be above the 28 boxes and up to 50 for the next Leg, giving priorities to the areas. That being said, we could expect to cover the rest of columns A & B, all of C and E (best case). What are your thoughts?
1756: From Ted Waitt To Andy Sherrell
Get me a plan that does the following:
1. Assumes a maximum of one box per day (37-38 boxes).
2. Finishes A and B, but doesn’t cover known previously-covered area.
3. After that, we need to prioritize, so where do we go? Elgen Long is working, so have Chris Nutter work in parallel.
