ARSV LAURENCE M. GOULD DAILY SITUATION REPORT

GMT DATE:              25 February 2003

METRICS:                     SS

GMT TIME:                   0000          0600          1200          1800

LATITUDE (S):             68 37.5       67 49.9       68 02.7       68 02.9
LONGITUDE (W):            070 11.4      070 42.8      069 22.1      069 22.3

WEATHER
TEMPERATURE (C):            1.0           0.5           2.0           4.6
AIR PRESSURE(MB):          986.0         984.5         981.9         977.5
REL HUMIDITY (%):           95.0          85.0          80.0          66.0
WIND SPEED (KN):             10          10-15           20          22-25
WIND DIRECTION:              N            NNE            SE           ESE
SWELL HEIGHT (ft):          4-6           4-6           4-6           4-6
SWELL DIRECTION:             N            NNE            SE            E
SALINITY(PSU):              31.8          33.2          32.8          33.1
SEA SURF TEMP(C):           -1.2          0.6           0.6           0.3
VISIBILITY (NM):             5            6=8           UNL            10
CLOUDS (%):                 100            95            90           100
SEA STATE:                   4             4             4             4

SEA ICE
ICE TOTAL(TENTHS):         <1/10         <1/10         <1/10         <1/10
NEW & GREY ICE:            BERGS         BERGS         BERGS         BERGS
GREY-WHITE:
THIN ICE (30-60):
MED ICE (60-120):
THICK ICE (120-200):
OLD ICE 2 Yr. Plus:
SNOW DEPTH (CM):
ICE PRESSURE:

ENGINES/PITCH:
                     (OS-On Station, VP-Variable Pitch, OE-One Engine)

FUEL ON BOARD: (gallons)             127,190

REMARKS:  We returned to mooring site C1 early this morning.  Three solo buoys were deployed overnight as we transited the area.  We then rigged over to attempt another drag recovery of the C1 mooring, approximately 50 meters of which remain on the seafloor, still vertical, with one current meter and one T-pod left as instruments.  We deployed the 900 meter drag array and towed over and around the site, with no results.  We recovered the entire drag/grapple array, broke for lunch, and redeployed early afternoon with a slightly modified array.  After towing for an hour or more on the bottom, we started to take up the array when we experienced several 'tension events' which might have indicated snagging on the ocean floor with some feature or perhaps the mooring. However, this series of events, although much less than the rating of the winch/wire system, pulled the towing winch from it's turntable base and displaced it aft approximately 15 feet, shearing off the hydraulic supply lines as it moved.  All operations were stopped, and the ship backed down to relieve the wire tension.  The drag array had to be cut free as there was no way of retrieving it at that point.  The winch was secured in place with cargo chains and will be replaced in position at first opportunity.  Repairs will be effected in port. We then proceeded towards Tickle Passage for marine mammal ops tomorrow.

Regards, Owen
Marine Projects Coordinator
R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD
email to: mpc@lmg.usap.gov