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9th March Search Report
David Mearns - Search Director, The Finding
Sydney Foundation
Shipwreck search projects generally fall into a rhythm of running
the side-scan sonar down a trackline followed by a turn to the next
search trackline, repeated many times over. So a good rhythm would
be line, turn, line, turn, line etc. Unfortunately, our rhythm had
been line, recover for repairs, partial line, recover for bad
weather, wait on weather, line, recover for repairs.
Whilst it is frustrating to have had such an unlucky start to the
search for HMAS Sydney, I also know that we are due better weather
than we have had and that the problems with the SM30 sonar tow-fish
are slowly but surely being sorted out. The Williamson & Assoc's
technicians are fully committed and working very hard to deliver the
best quality sonar imagery.
Our
project schedule does include a contingency for time lost due to
such problems although I would have rather not used up this
contingency so early in the project. It reminds me that we had a
similar situation during the Hood and Bismark (sic) project in 2001
when we lost the first three days to a Force 10 storm in the Bay of
Biscay. Knowing how that project ultimately turned out (we found and
filmed both wrecks well within our allotted schedule) gives me
confidence we could repeat that performance here off the WA coast.
John Perryman
Today's dawn brought with it the end of our north-south run during
which we had seen a slight deterioration in our SM30 sonar signal.
After some discussion it was determined to recover the tow fish and
replace the connection on the umbilical cord through which data is
transferred back to the survey room. With blue skies above us and in
reasonable seas, the fish was successfully recovered during the
forenoon and throughout the afternoon the Williamson technicians set
about rectifying the faults.
The
sonar was not the only "fish' recovered, During the last few days of
rough weather several flying fish had inadvertently made unscheduled
landings on the Geosounder's quarter-deck during their brief ascent
from the sea. Needless to say, they were returned to whence they
came.
The
intention is now to redeploy the SM30 tow-fish later this evening
with a view to commencing our next search run as soon as possible.
Although this is another break in our schedule, it has provided a
good opportunity to review our research work and conclusions as well
as those of other independent researchers who. although not directly
involved in this project, have done much to keep the interest in the
story of Sydney alive.
John Perryman - Senior Navy Historian
Today’s dawn brought with it the end of our north-south run during
which we had seen a slight deterioration in our SM30 sonar signal.
After some discussion it was determined to recover the tow-fish and
replace the connection on the umbilical cord through which data is
transferred back to the survey room. With blue skies above us and in
reasonable seas, the fish was successfully recovered during the
forenoon and throughout the afternoon the Williamson technicians set
about rectifying the faults.
The
sonar was not the only ‘fish’ recovered. During the last few days of
rough weather several flying fish had inadvertently made unscheduled
landings on the Geosounder’s quarter-deck during their brief ascent
from the sea. Needless to say, they were returned to whence they
came.
The
intention is now to redeploy the SM30 tow-fish later this evening
with a view to commencing our next search run as soon as possible.
Although this is another break in our schedule, it has provided a
good opportunity to review our research work and conclusions as well
as those of other independent researchers who, although not directly
involved in this project, have done much to keep the interest in the
story of Sydney alive.
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