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May 16th, 2006, 08:54 AM
| #1 (permalink) |
| New Member  Join Date: May 2006 Location: Poland
Posts: 1
 | Wilhelm Gustloff Expedition 2006 Hi Everyone Maybe it will be interesting for someone: =====Baltic Wrecks Association participate in "Complex wrecks and wrecks environment influence survey programme" by Maritime Office in Gdynia. ====Between May 7th and 10th, 2006 took place joint expedition of Maritime Office in Gdynia and Baltic Wrecks Association to the wreck of Wilhelm Gustloff. It was possible to organized first joint expedition thanks to cooperation agreement signed by Maritime Office in Gdynia and our association. Open-sea surveys took place from s/v Zodiak (cpt. Z. Omernik). Hydroacoustic surveys took place from zodiac "Sonar 2" using Side Scan Sonar and Single Beam Echosounder. Divers have been using 115 bhp zodiac "Sonar 3" for transportation from our base s/v Zodiak to the wreck descent lines. In behalf of Maritime Office in Gdynia expedition has been leaded by Mr. J. Gęstwicki. Hydroacoustic surveyor Mr. J. Koszałka lead all hydrographic measurements. Baltic Wrecks Association has been represented by Polish divers: Wojciech Jechna, Karol Lelowski, Piotr Pielak, Łukasz Piórewicz, Sebastian Popek, Tomasz Stachura and exclusive guest from Czech Republic: Radek Husak, Mirek Lukas, Silvo Peknik, Pawel Riedl and Peter Vaverka Our mission was to: - do ultimate hydroacoustic wreck survey - collect three bottom sludge samples - do ultimate video and photo wreck documentation - collect general informations for wreck condition report During the expedition additional diving took place in order to identify unknown u/w object detected by side scan sonar. Our diving team include 3 u/w photographers and 5 u/w camera operators. Diving team has been divided in four 3 divers groups. Every group get precise task to be completed during each dive. Tasks have been assigned to the groups during morning and afternoon briefings. Every day one group stay on surface taking care about diving lads. In that way we avoid divers physical effort. During first day surveyors from Maritime Office in Gdynia measure the wreck using hydroacoustic methods and put down three descent lines. Descent lines were placed at fore-, mid- and after- part of the wreck. After morning briefing first two diving groups get in to the water on after- and fore- part of the wreck. They were responsible of deploying guide lines along the wreck. Additionally they have collect bottom sludge samples. Unfortunately due to the water temperature and high waves we limit bottom time to max. 35 minutes. As a third group two u/w camera operator and one support diver dived to the wreck. That time they had one aim - to record a movie of wreck's after part. First day afternoon weather prevent us from diving. Next 24 hours weather forecast was not promising. Second day early morning wake us up with sunny weather and calm sea. That time all three groups get in to the water on nearly same time. Finally we were able to send groups of tec divers by zodiac in 15 minutes periods. That day plan stated doing photo and movie documentation between descent lines (bow-mid and mid-stern areas). Precise schedule allow safe divers transportation with 3 minutes accuracy. On second day every group dived two times. They manage to take photos and record movies along the wreck meter by meter from stern to bow. Final day show us again how much unpredictable Baltic Sea can be. After two windy days and bad weather forecast for third day we were awarded with 2 knots wind and calm sea. The day before surveyors from Maritime Office deploy fourth descent line on unidentified u/w object earlier found by Side Scan Sonar. Divers who had a pleasure to dive on that 12 meters long and over 60 years old motorboat wreck seems to be the first since Gustloff fatal day. Last dive seems to be the best one. Plus 20 meters visibility and 6-8 C water temperature increase dive comfort and made it an ultimate pleasure. In total three divers team manege to do 45 dive during three days. Records and samples collected during that expedition are a base for further researches on wreck environment influence and general wreck condition. During the expedition inside dive team and divers - crew cooperation was brilliant. Special thank goes to s/v Zodiak crew members for being so helpful. Engagement, experience and cooperation allow us to complete our diving project successfully. After anchor has been aweigh we pay ours respect to the victims with horn salute. "Complex wrecks and wrecks environment influence survey programme" is coordinated by Head of Marine Surveys Department at Maritime Office in Gdynia Mr. H. Koszka __________________ rgds Sebastian Popek www.balticwrecks.com |
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