arctic west summer 2006 uscgc healy (wagb-20) - Icefloe.net

140 Pages·2007·4.6 MB·English

ARCTIC WEST SUMMER
2006

USCGC HEALY (WAGB-20)
30 APRIL – 03 SEPTEMBER 2006
Cruise Report
Commanding Officer 1519 Alaskan Way S
USCGC HEALY (WAGB 20) Seattle, WA 98134
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

16155
10 Oct 2006
MEMORANDUM

From: J. C. Jackson, CDR
CGC HEALY (WAGB 20)

To: CG PACAREA
Subj: ARCTIC WEST SUMMER 2006 CRUISE REPORT

Ref: (a) Polar Icebreaker Cruise Reports, COMDTINST 16155.2B

1. This report is submitted in accordance with reference (a) and covers the period from
30 April 2006 to 03 September 2006.
2. HEALY completed two missions to support Arctic research during AWS-06. HLY 6-
01 and 6-02. The first mission was a thirty-day study of benthos. This phase was in
continuation of a long-term (1950-present) study of the benthos in the Bering Sea near
Saint Lawrence Island, and involved 118 stations in 26 days and over 1,000 over-the-side
evolutions. HEALY’s second mission was a scheduled forty-day study was for the
collection of seismic data on the Chuckchi Borderland including the Northwind Ridge,
Chuckchi Plateau, and the Medeleev Ridge. The civilian helicopters played an important
role in the distribution of the 90 lb seismometers onto the ice flows at 6 mile intervals
over three different 85-mile tracks. 165 miles of seismic data was collected during 84
total hours of towing a 7,000 lb caged pneumatic device close astern. A total of 40
science party personnel, 2 helicopters and 5 aviation personnel participated in this science
endeavor. During this mission HEALY also completed several over-the-side gravity
cores and jumbo cores of the Chuckchi Borderland. The mission, scheduled to conclude
on August 28th was cut short by the Class A scuba diving MISHAP and loss of life on
August 17th. After flying our shipmates ashore in Barrow, HEALY received visits from
the Commandant, Pacific Area Commander, and District Seventeen Commander. The
Critical Incident stress Management Team (9 persons), Administration Investigation
board (3 persons) and MISHAP Analysis Board (5 persons) embarked in Barrow, AK and
made the transit to Kodiak, AK where the crew had a four-day port call for rest before
returning home on September 3rd.
3. In addition to the science missions, HEALY was involved in the MEDEVAC of an
injured sailor off the sailing vessel JERSEY CLIPPER. During gale condition winds and
seas the injured crewman was successfully retrieved by HEALY’s RHI small boat. The
injured sailor was later transported, by Coast Guard Helicopter, to shore side medical.
The rescue was successful and had no impact on science operations. HEALY also took
part in her very first Tailored Ship’s Training Availability- TSTA from June 12th to July
6th. HEALY completed TSTA with flying colors and earned the Coast Guard “E” ribbon
for all hands.
4. During Arctic West Summer 06, HEALY provided 66 supported science days, large
number of which was above the Arctic Circle. AWS 1-06 and 2-06 missions met or
exceeded research goals. HEALY has continued to demonstrate that it is the premier
platform from which to conduct polar scientific operations.
#

Enclosure: Arctic West Summer 2006 Cruise Report

Dist: Qty Qty
Commandant (G-OPN, G-OCU, G-OCA, G-SEN) 1 ea National Science Foundation 1
Commander, Pacific Area (Po, Pof, Poo) 2 ea Center for Polar and Scientific Archives
Commander, Atlantic Area (Ao) 1 National Archives of the United States 1
MLCP (v, t) 1 ea U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and
USCG Academy 1 Engineering Lab 2
Aviation Training Center (POPDIV) 1 Engineering Logistics Center (01, 02) 1 ea
USCGC POLAR STAR 2 NESU Seattle 1
USCGC POLAR SEA 2 ESU Seattle 1
Arctic Icebreaker Coordination Committee 10

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page
I. Ship Operations
- Operations Summary.………………………………………………… I-1
- Navigation Operations.…………………………………………….… I-5
- Deck Operations……………………………………………………… I-11

II. Air Operations………………………………………………………………… . II-1

III. Communications……………………………………………………………… III-1

IV. Science………………………………………………………………………… IV-1

V. Engineering
- Summary………………………………………………………………… V-1
- Main Propulsion…………………………………………………………. V-17
- Auxiliary………………………………………………………………… V-18
- Electrical………………………………………………………………… V-21
- Electronics………………………………………………………………. V-24
- Damage Control………………………………………………………… . V-27
- Fueling………………………………………………………………….… V-30

VI. Administration
- Summary…………………………………………………………………. VI-1
- Morale……………………………………………………………………. VI-9

VII. Training (CART/TSTA/GMT/Drills)………………………………………… VII-1

VIII. Supply Logistics
- Summary……………………..………………………………………….. VIII-1
- General Mess……………………………………………………………. VIII-3
- Ship’s Exchange………………………………………………………… VIII-4

IX. Medical ……………………………………………………………………... IX-1

X. Public Affairs…………………………………………………………………… X-1

XI. Dive Operations
- Summary……………………………………………………………….. XI-1
- Table: Dive Log………………………………………………………... XI-6
Appendices Page

A Chronology of Major Events………………………………………….. A-1

B 1200 Positions………………………….……………………………… B-1

C Embarked Personnel…………………………………………………... C-1

D Fuel Consumption…………………………………………………….. D-1

E. Deployment Summary Message ……...………………………………. E-1

F. Press Releases…………………………………………………………. F-1

Aerial view of HEALY and the POLAR SEA meeting above the Arctic Circle.
CHAPTER I – SHIP OPERATIONS

1. Summary
A. Deployment Preparations
1. Cruise planning for the 2006 deployment began in October 2005 during the
transit from Tromso, Norway to Seattle (via the Panama Canal) at the
conclusion of the 2005 deployment. By December 2005, the National Science
Foundation had identified the assigned missions with appropriate timeframes.
In January 2006, HEALY hosted ship visits for each of the assigned Chief
Scientists to tour the spaces, meet person to person with their counterparts and
fine tune the calendar days during which Science Party members or equipment
would embark or be loaded/ unloaded.

AWS-06 was set forth as follows:

30 Apr Depart Homeport Seattle en route Dutch Harbor
07 May - 05 Jun AWS 06-01 (30 day Lovvorn / Grebmeier Biological)
12 Jun Arrive Homeport Seattle for Navy Training
06 Jul Conclude Navy Training
07 Jul - 18 Jul Transit Seattle to Barrow
18 Jul - 28 Aug AWS 06-02 (40 day Lawver Geo-Physical)*
30 Aug – 04 Sep 5 day working port call in Dutch Harbor
09 Sep - 08 Oct AWS 06-03 (30 day Mayer Bottom Mapping)
09 Oct – 22 Oct AWS 06-04 (14 day Reves-Sohn AUV Op-Test & Evaluation)
05 Nov Return to Seattle, prepare for Drydock

*It should be noted that AWS 06-02 was terminated on August 17th following the
tragic class-A scuba diving MISHAP involving the loss of life of LT Jessica Hill
and BM2 Steven Duque. Ultimately, the remainder of the deployment was
cancelled and HEALY returned to Seattle on September 3rd.

2. February 2006 marked the commencement of decisive planning for the
civilian helicopter contract also. Helicopter needs were itemized for each o
the science missions and NSF determined how best to fit the needs. Once the
specific needs were put into writing, NSF solicited support through their
Arctic Logistics Coordinator, VECO Polar Resources. The contract was
eventually let to Maritime Helicopters Company of Homer and Anchorage,
AK with inter-governmental oversight provided by the Department of the
Interior's National Business Center's Aviation Management Directorate (DOI's
NBC's AMD). This organization was formerly known as the Office of
Aviation Safety (OAS). HEALY received a waiver from the aviation
oversight office of Coast Guard Headquarters and the contract became final.

3. In early March 2006, HEALY had completed extensive dockside maintenance
and got underway for a 4 day engine trial to test a propulsion upgrade.
I-1
HEALY sailed on March 4th, making it 100 days since mooring on November
28th, 2005.

4. The Shakedown Cruise was completed between March 28th and April 7th and
included ship's operations, emergency drills and exercises, science systems
testing and a 2 day port call in Victoria, Canada. The beginning of the
Shakedown also included the biennial Coast Guard aviation standardization
visit (STAN). Despite the fact HEALY was scheduled to embark civilian and
not Coast Guard helicopters, it is still deemed critical to maintain familiarity
with Coast Guard flight procedures.

B. Seattle - Dutch Harbor, April 30th - May 6th
1. HEALY sailed on Sunday, April 30th for the 6 day transit to Dutch Harbor.
En route, HEALY was diverted 300 miles south to affect the MEDEVAC of
an injured sailor off the sailing vessel JERSEY CLIPPER. During gale
condition winds and seas, the injured crewman was successfully retrieved
from the sailing vessel via HEALY's RHI small boat. HEALY resumed the
transit to Dutch Harbor and once within range, a Coast Guard helicopter
affected further MEDEVAC transfer to shore side medical. The civilian sailor
in question made a full recovery ashore and HEALY arrived in Dutch Harbor
without delay. Also during this transit, HEALY was evaluated for training
readiness by the U.S. Navy's Afloat Training Group (ATG). The results of
this readiness check were used to craft a training plan for the 3 week training
availability scheduled from mid June to early July in Everett, WA. See
paragraph 1.D. below.

Sailing Vessel JERSEY CLIPPER.

I-2
C. AWS 06-01 (30 day NSF Lovvorn/Grebmeier Biological), May 7th - June 5th
1. The Phase I Science Party embarked in Dutch Harbor as did the single civilian
Maritime Helicopter (Company) Bell 206L3 "Long Ranger III" and it's
support contingent - 1 AMD Manager, 1 Pilot and 1 Mechanic. During the
course of this phase of science, HEALY continued a long-term (1950 -
present) assessment of benthos in the Bering Sea near Saint Lawrence Island.
HEALY completed 118 stations in 26 days including 1,004 over-the-side
evolutions (553 vanVeen bottom grabs, 126 CTD casts, 102 zooplankton nets,
98 Haps bottom cores, 74 otter bottom trawls and 71 UV meter dips.) The
helicopter disembarked 5 days prior to the end of this phase of science when it
was determined as no longer needed.

D. Dutch Harbor - Seattle, Navy Training in Everett, WA, June 6th - July 7th
1. HEALY was hosted by the Everett, Washington Naval Station for 3 weeks of
intensive emergency and operational training (Tailored Ship's Training
Availability - TSTA) from June 12th to July 6th. The transit to and from the
Bering Sea operating area combined with the duration of training essentially
resulted in a 40 day employment. Training focused on engineering casualty
control, damage control in the event of a collision, hull breach or system
failure, personnel medical response and mass casualties, communications via
all available mediums, small boat operations, HEALY towing, precision
navigation, anchoring, low visibility piloting and navigation system failures.
The operational tempo of the 3 weeks of training was exhausting and difficult
to maintain for the long period, but HEALY was able to complete the training
with flying colors, which resulted in the earning of the Coast Guard “E”
ribbon for all hands. HEALY was also able to benefit from being in close
proximity to Seattle during a rare summer home visit.

Crewmembers working to plug the leak during their first ever TSTA.

I-3
E. Seattle - Barrow, July 8th - July 17th
1. This ten day ‘empty-handed’ and science free transit over the 3,000 NM from
Seattle to Barrow was a reasonable opportunity to afford much needed crew
rest after the intensity of TSTA.

F. AWS 06-02 (40 day NSF Lawver Geo-Physical), July 18th - August 17th
1. HEALY arrived offshore Barrow on July 18th in anticipation of embarking
the Phase II Science Party. The fast ice conditions of the rumble field
engulfing the entire Northslope of Alaska which were devastating to transit
times and causing HEALY to hove-to, in the ice, to conserve fuel. Soon after
the embarkation of the 40 person party, 2 helicopters and 5 aviation personnel,
HEALY remained hove-to and drifted easterly with the pack.

HEALY hove-to, just off of Barrow, AK.

2. On day 4 we were able to transit freely to the north. This science mission was
for the collection of seismic data on the Chuckchi Borderland including the
Northwind Ridge, Chuckchi Plateau and Medeleev Ridge. Helicopters
deployed 90 lb seismometers onto ice floes at 6 mile intervals along three pre-
designated tracks at 85 miles each. 165 miles of seismic data was collected
during 84 total hours towing the 7,000 lb caged pneumatic device close astern.
This mission also included coring on the Chuckchi Borderland and HEALY
collected five benthos gravity cores for three meters of sample, three large
gravity cores for seven meters of sample and nine jumbo piston cores for 51
meters of sample.

3. As stated previously, this mission was scheduled thru August 28th but was
terminated after the scuba diving MISHAP and loss of life on August 17th.
After flying the deceased ashore in Barrow, HEALY received visits by the
Commandant, Pacific Area Commander and District Seventeen Commander.
Also embarked were the Critical Incident Stress Management Team (9
I-4