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The container on the left is a decompression chamber. The container on the right is full of every supply we could think of for this mission. Both were shipped from the east coast of the United States to the West Coast by truck and then to Palau by ship, taking over a month.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography
Project Recover conducted this recovery mission from a large barge. This photo shows what the barge looked like upon arrival. The advance team built the barge into an operations center that included a dive station, decompression chamber, medical station, archaeological station, and screening station. The metal barge was quickly nicknamed “The Frying Pan” for the heat it retained and reflected from the sun.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography- The team used a large crane to build out the barge for recovery operations.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - The shipping container was packed to maximum capacity with supplies for the mission.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - The shipping container was packed to maximum capacity with supplies for the mission.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - Diving operations are very gear intensive. Here are air compressors, large tanks for oxygen, and compressed air for surface supply operations, plus backup air in an emergency.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - These large, heavy boxes contain some of the most vital components for diving operations. The most critical equipment has redundancy systems in case of any system failure.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - This toolbox is packed with supplies and generators. Every eventual possibility is accounted for in operation setup, configuration, and operation. For every piece of necessary equipment, there is a duplicate for backup.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - Here we see the crane operations and inspection station taking shape. The two main material baskets used in the dredging operation and the screening station being put in place by the crane.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - Here is a closer look at the screening station. First, screens were filled with material collected from the ocean floor. Then running water pumped above is used to splash over the screens. The water washes away sediment and leaves any potential artifacts on the screen surface. Screening in this manner is fast and efficient.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - Here is the tool shed with a freshwater tank welded and chained to the top. A large quantity of water was essential to have onboard for washing gear and other uses.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - The team needed to do a lot of on-site welding and fabrication. From equipment tie-downs to custom applications and ladders, the team was lucky to have welders nearby.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - Everything needed to be built on-site and by hand. Here Volunteer Seabees begin construction on a project. The military and SeaBee volunteers contributed significantly to the success of the mission.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - Steps with handrails had to be installed on both sides of the barge for safety and access. Both are hand-built by local craftsmen. These local craftsmen could look at the project, take some measurements and in one day come back with a complete kit, ready to set up quickly and efficiently.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - Setting up the Diving Helmet Cam System. The Diving Helmet Cam System fed live video from the diver's helmets so the archaeologist and operation leaders could view and assist from the surface.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - This is the scuba diving refill station. It is one component of the compressed air system used in diving operations.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - The dredging operations required two large-capacity pumps to handle the water flow needed for proper suction through a six-inch diameter hose. One extra engine was brought as a backup and was used during operations.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - Here, John Marsak of Legion and Sgt. Juan Pocaigue began the complicated setup of the air control center for diving operations. Once set up, every aspect of the system is tested several times in different scenarios to affirm system operability.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - The two silver material baskets are capture baskets for the dredging operations. The dredge hose vacuums up material and deposits it into the baskets. A fine ¼-inch stainless steel mesh is a filter to keep material in and allow water to escape. The two yellow baskets are for larger material to help divers clear an area for dredging.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - The Power Jet is the muscle of the dredge operation. Four jets from the two pumps push water through the venturi creating suction for a diver to use as a vacuum on the ocean floor.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - The crane lifts a water intake hose for one of the dredge pumps. At this level of gear, everything is extremely heavy.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - Project Recover’s Blake Boteler directs crane operations to lower the power jet component of the dredge system. Divers below will construct the complete hose system underwater. Dan O’Brien and Dredge Engineer Mike Raible keep a close watch.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - The main dredging hose is 100’ long and weighs hundreds of pounds. The hose was nicknamed “Nessie” and could only be moved by crane. The six-inch diameter allows large pieces of material to flow through, reducing clogs and increasing efficiency and dredging capacity.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - Mikey Raible, a professional dredge operator, whiteboards the layout and setup of the complete dredge operation.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - The completed barge is ready to be towed out to the site and anchored for the next month. At this point, we are about one week into the schedule. The buildout was much more of a mission than anyone could have anticipated.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography - The completed barge in position and anchored is ready for operations at week 2 of the MIA recovery mission.
Photo: Harry Parker Photography
