Pins and Plate Installation April 7 - 9, 2008

On Monday of this week Jules Craynock and Nancy Ash of NOAA/AOML performed the initial u/w layout of the center base plate and 8 peripheral pins offshore of Little Cayman Research Centre (LCRC). Positioned in hardpan bedrock in the fore reef zone on the shallow terrace that surrounds the island, the pylon will be deployed approximately .25 miles northeast of the LCRC. From an initial base plate position of 19º 41.934’ N, 080º 03.632’ W and a depth of 22 fsw, the peripheral pin positions were marked at a radius of 30ft. around the center base plate position for drilling the next day. Later on Monday the crew of the R/V Sea Keeper arrived at LCCI. The Sea Keeper is operated by the Cayman Islands Department of Environment as a superb, fully capable coastal service vessel. Led by Tim Austin, the crew included Keith Neale and Delwin McLauglin.

On Tuesday, joining the crew for the drilling operation was also Little Cayman Marine Officer Hank Blagen, and Carrie Manfrino and Jon Clamp of CCMI. All participants embarked with calm seas to the offshore site aboard the R/V Sea Keeper. A two- point mooring was used to place the stern of the vessel near to the intended base plate position so that the hydraulic drilling rig could be deployed. After drilling five holes for the 18” base plate pins, 8 holes were then drilled at the peripheral positions to install stainless steel T- pins. After filling the pinning holes with concrete, the base plate was leveled and pinned with stainless steel rods. The peripheral pins were also installed with a concrete fill. Seas remained calm and good conditions enabled rapid progress. Of particular note was the excellent cooperation and great working spirit to be found with our R/V Sea Keeper colleagues.

After allowing the concrete to set overnight, the site was revisited and bearing and depth measurements retaken. The successful installation site was marked with a small orange subsurface buoy.

Posted by Jules Craynock

Fantail briefing before start of operations.

Overhead view of hydraulic drilling rig aboard R/V Sea Keeper attended by Keith Neale.

NOAA Oceanographer Jules Craynock and C.I. Department of Environment Assistant Director - Research and Assessment, discussing the base plate mounting.

Deploying the drill from the R/V Sea Keeper.

Expert Driller, Delwin McLaughin boring 7/8” pilot holes for the base plate installation.