Weeks 2 and 3 have been on the STYX
and ANTARES. STYX is a 41-meter dive support vessel with a
team of divers and the US Navy Autonomous Underwater Vehicles we are using for
target investigation. This past week, I was based on ANTARES, a 28-meter long
vessel whose mission is sonar surveying.
The two ships work together in their missions locating and clearing
mines along the French coast. The divers are trained to deactivate the mines –
not a job I would want.
LAPLACE
ANTARES
STYX
Monday, June 4
We have spent the past two days transiting from the port of Hull, England, and waiting for
the weather to improve. Having done no surveying and having nothing new to
report search-wise, this post, like some of the others, will focus on life aboard
a French Navy ship.
Today I will attempt to describe the hideousness that is an
angry North Sea, particularly when you are on a very small ship that is not meant to work in the deeper waters offshore. I don’t think there is a single one of us who
has escaped feeling the effects of literally being pounded into one wave after
the next. The sea state is a "5", meaning there are 20+ knot winds and waves of
about 4 meters. We are tossed about, and
two people are feeling so crummy that they are lying down outside on the aft
deck. The XO has assigned someone to check on them periodically to make sure they are still with us and did not fall overboard. We are getting our butts kicked by
Mother Nature once again, and have no chance of winning. In my brief check on the status of my team of
two (the ones lying out on the deck), another crew member runs out the door to
the stern and bends over the rail. I feel so bad for everyone, as they are not used to working in heavy seas. I feel particularly bad for the cook, who wasn’t
well and had to continue producing meals for 25 people, while boiling huge pots
of water that sloshed about, and with the smell of food permeating the air. Maybe
it’s because I have already been out here for two weeks, but I have been spared
the seasickness. I will count my blessings and try to keep everyone's morale up as best I
can. The forecast for the next two days is not good, with the sea state reaching a "6" (4-6 meter waves and very rough seas) by tomorrow. We talk about heading inshore to the shelter of Flamborough Head, which we have done on previous expeditions. It seems like an eternity (only a few hours) until we are granted permission from the British authorities to anchor near the shore for the night. Our companion vessel, STYX, is about 10 hours behind us in the transit, as they had engine trouble in port and had to wait for the next tide in order to sail. Based on our terrible transiting experience, they chose the inshore route and had a much more comfortable ride up to Flamborough Head, where they moored next to us for the night. We will travel together to the survey area in the morning, and hope that conditions allow us to continue the survey. A good night's sleep should do everyone good.
