Mobilisation

Tampa, Florida
August 30, 2005

On Saturday 27th August I travelled to Tampa, Florida, to join Seacore technician team preparing for mobilisation of DP HUNTER for coring operations in Tahiti.

On Sunday 28th August we began checks on the plans, such as checking out drawings against actual deck layout for rig positioning. It was established that all containers with Seacore and ESO (=ECORD Science Operator; amongst others responsible for the logistics of the operation) equipment have cleared US Customs and arrangements were made to transport them to Tampa. The containers started to arrive on Monday 29th, and were placed in a drydock alongside where the ship would berth.

Fortunately the work in Tampa was not unduly influenced by Hurricane Katrina, and unloading continued on Tuesday as more Seacore personnel arrived and rig construction began on the dockside, and continued through the night with good progress. The rig is needed to core the fossil, i.e. dead corals off Tahiti.

On Wednesday, 31st, 1800hrs, the DP HUNTER arrived at its berth, and work continued again throughout the night in the drydock fitting area. Work on vessel started at on Thursday morning when fitting and fabrication commenced on moonpool area. A moonpool is a tube through the ship from deck to hull level, open at each end but seled to the sides, which allows the coring equipment to be put through the vessel.

Ali Skinner
British Geological Survey
ECORD Science Operator

September 2-3
Mobilisation of the DP Hunter in Tampa continued with construction of the rig in a neighbouring dry-dock to the vessel and then being craned aboard for installation. Other equipment and supplies were loaded and installed, including the satellite dish for communication during the expedition.

September 4
Mobilisation continuing, particularly electrical wiring and hydraulic plumbing of the drilling equipment. Work has begun on the ESO scientific containers to connect then to electricity and computer networks. The drilling equipment was undergoing commissioning tests at the same time.

As this is the first Mission Specific Platform to be mobilised for IODP in the USA (one of the IODP Lead Agency nations) ESO were very pleased to host a visit from the IODP President and CEO, Prof Manik Talwani, and Dr Jamie Allen, of NSF (on behalf of the IODP Lead Agencies). Both were apparently impressed at the speed of the MSP mobilisation process. ESO and SeaCore were equally pleased they were able to see the process for themselves and report back to the Lead Agencies.

September 5
Mobilisation of the DP Hunter nearing completion. Embarkation scheduled to take place at midnight or early morning on September 6 following acceptance testing of the rig installation. Fuelling will then take place at nearby Port Manatee on route to the Panama Canal. Whilst Seacore personnel have disembarked, ESO staff will remain onboard to continue work on providing electrical power to the containers and installing computer networks, before disembarking in Panama. Final mobilisation activities will be completed in Tahiti immediately prior to the expedition.

The DP Hunter transitted through the Panama Canal on September 14-15. ESO staff disembarked in Panama. Following fuelling the ship entered the Pacific.

DP Hunter is now transiting across the Pacific, heading for Papeete. The latest news is that the ship expects to arrive in Tahiti during the night of 3rd to 4th October. The expedition is due to begin drilling on October 6th.