The Official Newsletter for the Divers and Salvors of the United States NavyVolume 5, No. 4 / September, 2001

From the Supervisor of Diving . . .From the Supervisor of Diving . . .From the Supervisor of Diving . . .From the Supervisor of Diving . . .From the Supervisor of Diving . . .

From the Supervisor of Diving ...................... 1Underwater Ship Husbandry Advisory:Diving Around Co-Biocide Hull Coatings ....... 2Student Sailor Plots Summer Course ............ 3Primary Colors Key When Diving .................. 4In Memory: RememberingHMC (FMF/SW/DV) Pedro J. Gonzales ......... 5

In This Issue

Approximately 70,000 lbs of MONITOR Engine Being Lifted Aboard the Derrick Barge Wotan.

PMS Corner .................................................... 5Dive School Students to ReceiveAssociates Degree Upon Graduation ........... 6Command in the Spotlight: MDSU TWO DET101 Flies South for “Operation Birdcage ...... 7Historical Notes: The Wall ............................. 8U.S. Sailor Goes Home to Thailand,

Trains for Deep-Sea Rescue ........................ 9Navy Diver Researcher Named to theWomen’s Hall of Fame ................................. 10Divers Assist In Anacostia River Cleanup .. 12Monitor 2001 ................................................ 13The Old Master ............................................ 15

This summer has been a hectic onefor this office and Navy Divers with theMONITOR, EHIME MARU, emergentship repairs and remote salvage opera-tions. The USS MONITOR Mission forthis year was a tremendous success. Notjust from the engine recovery aspect,but more importantly due to the safeconduct of diving and the operational

experience that was gained and shared by24 separate commands and approximately150 Navy Divers. One of the main playersthat made this summer a success were themen and women of Mobile Diving andSalvage Unit TWO. After six months of ex-haustive planning , MDSU TWO had toload out on a derrick barge nearly 1000miles from home to commence this opera-

tion. This was a major task in itself andMDSU TWO excelled. I cannot thankMDSU TWO enough for their tremen-dous leadership, support and execution.I would like to mention the DoD LegacyProgram for the bulk of funding for thismission and the tremendous supportthat Navy diving has received from

(continued on page 2)

Monitor 2

001 see page 13

2 September 2001

FACEPLATE is published by the Supervi-sor of Salvage and Diving to bring the lat-est and most informative news available tothe Navy diving and salvage community.Discussions or illustrations of commercialproducts do not imply endorsement by theSupervisor of Salvage and Diving or theU.S. Navy.

Articles, letters, queries and commentsshould be directed to the Commander,Naval Sea Systems Command, NAVSEA00C, 1333 Isaac Hull Ave. SE Stop 1070,Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376-1070.(Attn: FACEPLATE). Visit our website athttp://www.supsalv.org

Captain Bert Marsh, USNDirector of Ocean Engineering

Supervisor of Salvage and DivingNAVSEA 00C

marshb@navsea.navy.mil

Jim BladhManaging Editor

Head, Operations Branch, 00C22bladhjc@navsea.navy.mil

HTCM (MDV) Chuck Young, USNENCM (MDV) Dave Davidson, USN

Fleet Liaison Editorsyoungch@navsea.navy.mil

davidsondl@navsea.navy.mil

F. Scott LassiterGraphic Designer

slassiter@roh-inc.com

(continued from page 1)SUPSALSUPSALSUPSALSUPSALSUPSALV SendsV SendsV SendsV SendsV Sends

UNDERWUNDERWUNDERWUNDERWUNDERWAAAAATER SHIP HUSBANDRY ADVISORYTER SHIP HUSBANDRY ADVISORYTER SHIP HUSBANDRY ADVISORYTER SHIP HUSBANDRY ADVISORYTER SHIP HUSBANDRY ADVISORYDiving Around Co-Biocide Antifouling Hull CoatingsBy: Tom McCue

The next generation of antifoulinghull coating systems is currently

under development and is reachingtest patch scale application on vari-ous USN and USCG vessels. Diversshould be aware of these coatingsand should take the necessary pre-cautions. Material Safety DataSheets (MSDS) for these productstypically address the storage, han-dling and safety precautions for theuncured (wet) materials and the pre-cautions to be taken to prevent exposureduring drydock application. The MSDS donot specifically address the cured (dry)state of the coating once applied to a hulland the resultant exposure incurred bydivers performing underwater inspectionsand repairs. The co-biocide antifoulinghull coatings appear to be less toxic than

the current ablative antifouling coatingsfound on most Navy ships. There arepresently no indications that the removalof a cured co-biocide coating through abra-sion with equipment, persons, and UWSHactions has an adverse effect on the sur-rounding water, equipment or persons.

Senator Warner (R-VA). Without hissupport and the funding from Legacy,this mission could not have happened.Another major player in making this mis-sion a reality with saturation diving wasOPNAV N773 who supported the satura-tion effort from start to finish. Finally,the personnel that made the saturationdiving happen at the deck plate levelwere MDV Young and Rob Warren andhis 00C4 team that did an exhaustiveevaluation of the civilian saturation sys-tem that was used this summer. This summer was not all success.The tragic diving accident on the USSSAFEGUARD emphasizes the fact thatdiving is an inherently dangerous busi-ness. We cannot get complacent in the

execution of diving procedures. As divers,supervisors, and leaders, we must alwayskeep this in mind and ensure that risk man-agement is a way of life.

Diving Manual, Revision 4, Change A Change A is on the street. We have al-ready received comments on the changeand a couple of recommended changes forconsideration. We are always open tocomments on the manual. Our plan is toissue changes once a year, if required,unless they are safety related. In that case,a diving AIG will be released with a penand ink change.

World Wide Chamber Locator The world wide chamber locator system

is being worked with Diver’s Alert Net-work (DAN). DAN is in the process ofadding military chambers to their database. Access by Navy diving com-mands is expected by late fall and proce-dures will be promulgated via a divingAIG when it is in place and ready foruse. This will give all diving commandsaccess to this data base to assist inplanning for a diving operation out ofhomeport. The Diving Supervisor canuse this information to contact thechamber and verify that it meets theneeds of the specific diving operation inaccordance with the Diving Manual.

Left: USS RENTZ serves as a test platformfor co-biocide antifouling hull coatings.

Below: Co-Biocide test patches applied onthe side of USS RENTZ.

(Continued on page 3)

September 2001 3

Like most college students, she packsup at the end of the summer to head

back to school, but she just needs a bag –a sea bag.

When she goes to class this fall, Sa-rah E. Turse will fill her sea bag with thingsshe needs for school and her naval uni-form.

Between football games and classprojects, she’ll have uniform inspections.That’s because this Penn State junior fromSwedesboro, N.J., pulls double duty atschool and in the Navy. She’s a collegestudent who’s also a midshipman in theReserve Officer Training Corps on campus.

Turse and her ROTC shipmates domore than work toward their degrees.They’re training to lead Sailors serving inthe U.S. Navy.

“I have a full college experience,”Turse says. “I go to school, wear what Iwant, go out when I want. But I have tobalance my college life with my profes-sional life.”

Before moving back into the dorm,Turse spent the summer on board USSSAFEGUARD (ARS 50). This salvage andrescue ship took her to the Philippinesand Thailand in support of a naval exer-cise known as COOPERATION AFLOATREADINESS AND TRAINING: (CARAT).

“I’ve never been out of the country.I can’t believe I was in Japan, the Philip-pines and now Thailand.”

While in Southeast Asia for CARAT,Turse went scuba diving, patched holes inships and lowered divers from SAFE-

GUARD into the water – all of it as part ofher job.

“This cruise I was fully integratedwith the crew, and I saw what diving andsalvage is all about,”says this Navy diverhopeful.

Penn State’s ROTCprogram introducesTurse and her fellow fu-ture officers to the vari-ety of jobs available inthe Navy. As a mid-shipman, she hasserved aboard surfaceships and submarines.

But Turse saysthis summer’s cruisehelped her chart herNavy course. HerSAFEGUARD experi-ences helped her decideshe wants to be a Navydiver and an EOD officer.

She’s determined to do just that.“I’ve set my goal, and I’m going to do ev-erything it takes to get there,” says thejournalism major.

“She has exceptional drive and enthu-siasm which you can’t teach. You eitherhave it or you don’t,” says LCDR John G.Gray, Jr., SAFEGUARD’s commanding of-ficer.

The EOD program is one of the mostcompetitive – physically and mentally –Turse explains. She believes Penn State’sROTC program is helping her prepare for

her Navy career in this field.“It’s helpedme mature a lot. They let the students runthe unit, so it’s a lot of responsibility. Wetrain in leadership and ethics, and they

give us responsibility. I’m in charge of 30other students, and I’m accountable fortheir actions,” she says.

The EOD community attracts her be-cause she believes she can be in chargeas a junior officer.Lt. Leslie Hull-Ryde enlisted in the Navy,February 1995 as a Navy journalist. Sheattended officer candidate school inPensacola, Fla. and then went on to theU.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.,where she served in the public affairsoffice for four years. She is now the publicaffairs officer, Logistics Group, WesternPacific, Singapore.

Some basic precautions should betaken when diving in the proximity of hullspainted with co-biocide antifouling hullcleanings:

• A protective layer of clothing, eitherthermal protection (wet suit, bootsand gloves) or cotton coveralls andgloves, should be sufficient.

• Breathing apparatus is at thediscretion of the Diving Supervisorand should be based on the require-ments of the task.

• All diving equipment, breathing

apparatus, and clothing should bewashed down with fresh water andapproved detergents. Divers shouldbe washed down with fresh waterand soap upon completion of thedive.

The following ships have co-biocide coat-ings applied on the underwater hull:

• USS RENTZ (FFG 46)• USCGC MATINICUS (WPB 1315)

If any adverse physical reactions oc-cur, immediately seek medical attention.Send an incident report NAVSEA 00C. Re-

port shall contain command name, point ofcontact, ship name, date and duration ofdive, type of dive operation conducted,type of breathing apparatus, type of per-sonal protection equipment, description ofand extent of reaction. These reports canbe sent via naval message addressed toCOMNAVSEASYSCOM WASHINGTONDC//00C5// or via email.

For additional information contactMr. Tom McCue (00C55) at (202) 781-0742,DSN 326-0742, or via email:mccuetp@navsea.navy.mil.

Midn. 2/C Sarah Turse, left, works with a Sailor aboard USSSafeguard (ARS 50) as they get a diver's equipment ready.

(Co-Biocide continued from page 2)

4 September 2001

PRIMARY COLPRIMARY COLPRIMARY COLPRIMARY COLPRIMARY COLORS KEY WHEN DIVINGORS KEY WHEN DIVINGORS KEY WHEN DIVINGORS KEY WHEN DIVINGORS KEY WHEN DIVINGBy: JO2 Kenny Ragland

LAMUT, Malaysia — Water splashedpoolside when Malaysian divers

jumped in during the annual CooperationAfloat Readiness and Training exercisehere.

“Red diver in the water,” called theU.S. Navy Dive Supervisor. “Green diverto the water’s edge,” he added as the Ma-laysian diver struggled with the full weightof the equipment and several hoses drag-ging behind.

The color scheme made up diving ex-ercises as part of Cooperation AfloatReadiness and Training (CARAT) divingexercises. Members of Mobile Diving andSalvage Unit One, Detachment 7, fromPearl Harbor, Hawaii suited up with theirMalaysian counterparts as CARAT aimsto increase interoperability among sixSoutheast Asian countries.

When diving, it’s an accepted Navypractice to use colors to distinguish eachdiver — and his equipment. This helpseliminate confusion on who’s doing whatand with what equipment. A loudspeaker

system allows all divers to hear the com-mands — and every word uttered by thosebelow the surface.

CARAT gave divers from both coun-tries a chance to become familiar with eachother’s equipment. Malaysian divers anx-iously awaited their turn to strap on anemergency gas system air tank and donthe bright yellow MK-21 dive helmet.Color-coded hoses provide the diver withsurface-supplied air and communicationswith the surface. Divers then took theirplaces on respective red or green benches— then waited for their orders.

“Getting used to the new equipmentis the best part of this training,” saidLCDR Muhammed Sobri, the first Malay-sian to dive into the water.

“We first go over surface supplieddive training,” said CWO Eric MacDonald,officer in charge of the U.S. team. “TheMK-21 helmets also allow us to use heliumand oxygen so we can go to greaterdepths.”

The divers also discuss and practice

underwater cutting and welding, use ofunderwater hydraulic tools, and battledamage assessment and repair.

The Americans brought a transport-able recompression chamber system,(TRCS), used to treat divers suffering fromdecompression sickness. It also allowsdivers to decompress out of the water aftera particularly long or deep dive. The Ma-laysian divers received training and practi-cal experience in the U.S. Navy’s trans-portable chamber.

The American divers got to see theRussian chamber used by the Malaysians.

“The TRCS system is the way togo,” said MacDonald. “The new TRCSsystem would be a lot more practical forthem.”

Before CARAT Malaysia, the U.S.divers made stops in Indonesia, Thailandand Singapore. In the Philippines, theyworked with their counterparts to helpcommunity and local fishermen impactedby a destroyer that sank during a typhoon

(Continued on page 5)

GM2(DV) Brandon Pevear, right, from San Diego, Calif., with Mobile Diving Salvage Unit One (MDSU ONE), and LCDR Rosli Talib, a RoyalMalaysian Navy diver, during orientation dive.

September 2001 5

and now currently blocking a pier.“The Philippine command wanted

specialized training in salvage,” saidMacDonald. “We showed them how toprepare a sunken ship to be re-floated.”

It has to be done properly or fuel stillin the sunken ship could seep into the wa-ters, contaminating them. It would cer-tainly affect the fishermen and the familiesin the area who get much of their liveli-hood — and protein — from fish in sur-rounding waters.

“We had all the holes patched andwere ready to start pumping (pumping outthe water).” “If they had had the properpump equipment we could have raised thatship,” said MacDonald. He expects the Fili-pinos to finish the job.

This U.S. Navy diving team has par-ticipated in large underwater recoveryprojects such as the TWA flight 800 crashand the John F. Kennedy Jr. plane crashrecovery. “We’re heading straight fromCARAT to work on the Japanese shipEhime Maru recovery,” said MacDonald.

CARAT is a series of annual bilateralexercises that take place throughoutSoutheast Asia.

JO2 Kenneth G. Ragland wrote theaccompanying article while on his two weekannual active duty for training. He has beena member of the Naval Reserve for the pastthirteen years.

BM1(DSW/SW) Rod Smith, from Spokane, Wash., with Mobile Diving Salvage Unit One(MDSU ONE) shows the Royal Malaysian Navy divers a Built In Breathing System (BIBS)inside their Transportable Recompression Chamber System (TRCS).

(Primary Colors continued from page 4)

In Memory HMC (FMF/SW/DV)Pedro J. Gonzales wastragically killed April 7,2001 in Quang Binh, Viet-nam while serving withthe Joint Task Force forRecovery (JTFR) ofMIAs from the VietnamWar.

Whether in thefield with the Fleet Ma-rine Force, on-site with asaturation dive team, oracting as an indepen-dent duty corpsman,Doc Gonzo gave youhis best. He set thestandard for others toemulate. He was, in fact,

an instructor and mentorfor many of the youngDiving Medical Techni-cians who are deployedworldwide with the variousdiving commands.

· Non Ionic Detergent (SPMIG 0366) will continue to be authorized for cleaningprovided it is prepared and mixed as per current instructions.

· Recent issue with the filter assemblies on the Volume Tank Assembly (VTA) usedwith the MK3 MOD 0 LWDS. O-ring part number for VTA serial numbers 024 andhigher is M83248/1-242. The gasket part number for VTA serial numbers 001though 023 is VBH131001D16, CAGE 94875.

· Recent problem reported on purification housings. If exposed to the weather, thetool post screws that retain the cover plate on top of housing may becomecorroded and fail. Updated guidance is contained on MRCs 5921/036 S-2R and5921/063 S-1R. If applicable submit TFBR for issue.

· Hydrostatic test requirements for stainless steel flasks, filter housings, moistureseparators, volume tanks and aluminum filter/purification housings are a thing ofthe past. FR 2-01 (various MIPS) contains new inspection criteria. The mainte-nance contains an internal and external inspection followed by ultrasonicinspection if damage is suspected. The periodicities have been tailored to make thetransition and scheduling easier. Hydros for DOT cylinders as well as inspectionrequirements for MIL-F-22606 steel flasks and moisture separators remain thesame.

· Part numbers for the gasket on the in line filters for the TRCS have changed. Thenew part number is SS-8TF-K2. Additionally, the torque spec and wrench has beenadded to MRCs 18M-1R, 18M-2R, 18M-3R.

· Commands having custody of FADS II Double Lock chambers are reminded thatthe correct part number for chamber door spider wheel stuffing boxes/door dogs is:Garlock Inc No. 5888 which is a Teflon filament material and meets MIL-P-24396. (Reference: Diving Advisory 88-06)

Points of contact:Mr. Kerry Duffy/ISEA 059 Comm: 850-230-3100, DSN 436-4351 or email:duffykp@nedu.navsea.navy.mil.HTCM(MDV) Young, NAVSEA 00C36, comm: (202) 781-0960, DSN: 326-0960,or email: youngch@navsea.navy.milTechnical questions, logistics problems, supply requests, personnel issue? Call orcontact ANCHOR DESK at 1-877-4-1-TOUCH.

“Service to the Fleet”

PMS Corner

6 September 2001

By: EMCS(MDV) Edward Dryden

The Naval Diving and Salvage TrainingCenter, in partnership with the Florida

Key’s Community College (FKCC), is nowoffering an Associate in Science degree inDiving Business and Technology. FKCCis an accredited college by the Commis-sion of Colleges of the Southern Associa-tion of Colleges and Schools. Beginningwith a new Second Class Diver class inMay of this year, students will have theoption of signing up for this unique op-portunity to receive a degree at the end ofsome diver training courses. According toCDR Mark T. Helmkamp, Commanding Of-ficer of NDSTC, “This provides a moresubstantive recognition for the accom-plishment of becoming a Navy 1st and2nd Class diver and better prepares eachgraduate for the future. This effort tookover a year and was well worth it.”

The program is designed to provideprospective diver candidates with an addi-tional educational benefit, over and abovethe qualifications received in divingschool. After class graduation, the stu-dent will receive either an Associate in Sci-ence degree or a Certificate of TechnicalProficiency based on past academicachievement. In other words, if a studenthas already completed the college level“core” work required for a degree (math,English, social science, etc.) he or she willbe awarded an Associate degree upongraduation. If they have not completedthis “core”, further education will be re-quired to receive the degree.

I know, you are reading this andwondering what the “catch” is. There aresome requirements for the student to meet.First off, they have to sign up for this pro-

gram during the first few days of training,then they have to graduate. That’s IT! Arepresentative from FKCC will brief eachclass, help them fill out the appropriateforms and submit them to the college.This includes all tuition assistance formsto detray some of the costs involved.FKCC will even, at no cost to the student,get their transcripts and evaluate them af-ter the initial sign up. All transfer creditswill be accepted as long as they apply tothe degree or “core” requirements.

Costs are minimal compared to aver-age tuition at a community college. Thestudent will receive 32 college credits forcompleting the course. In Florida, the av-erage college course costs 62 dollars percredit hour. Students participating in thisprogram will pay, on average, 62 dollars forthe whole thing. That’s a good deal in mybook.

After the completion of diver train-ing, if the student has not received an As-sociate degree because they are lackingthe “core” courses required, they can electto complete these requirements in a varietyof ways. First off, ACE recommendedcredit for Navy Occupations and Experi-ence will be accepted as applicable to thedegree. Additionally, CLEP, DANTES,PEP and Credit-By-Institutional Examina-tion may be used to complete the core re-quirements or the student may elect to at-tend college at another institution.

The dive school has also worked outan agreement with the Association of Div-ing Contractors International for recogni-tion of our diving curriculums and theFlorida Aquatic & Marine Institute hasbegun issuing NAUI dive cards to gradu-

ating students. Additionally, negotiationsare underway for recognition of NDSTCcurriculum by the National Board of Divingand Hyperbaric Medical Technology.This recognition will qualify studentsgraduating from certain courses as Certi-fied Hyperbaric Technologists. Each ofthese certificates requires a small fee tothe issuing organization but is well worththe price.

These programs are organized andsetup so that there is no impact on thestudents training here at NDSTC. Itcouldn’t be any easier, Signup and Gradu-ate. As long as the student does thesetwo things, they get an AS degree tohang on the “I Love Me Wall” and possi-bly a couple more certifications to boot.Plus it looks good on a resume. Addthese new programs to your recruiting toolbox and hopefully it’ll help us keep thecupboard stocked with fresh bodies. DiveSafe.

MDV Edward Dryden completed SecondClass Dive Training at Panama City, Flain 1984 and First Class Dive Training in1986. He became a Master Diver in1997 and currently serves at the NavalDiving & Salvage Training Center inFleet Diving Division.

September 2001 7

During January 2001, the NewEngland based Naval Reserve Mo-

bile Diving & Salvage Unit TWO Detach-ment 101 (MDSU TWO Det 101), aug-mented by personnel from MDSU TWO,performed a variety of underwater opera-tions for the USCG Group, Miami, FL. Themajority of the work involved the under-water cutting, removal and replacement ofdamaged navigational aids. The evolutionwas lightheartedly code-named “Opera-tion Birdcage” as a reference to the RobinWilliams movie that was filmed in the area.

The intercoastal waterway in andaround Miami is well known for its largeyachts and inexperienced skippers whoregularly drive their boats into the localnavigational aids. Largely as a result ofthis damage to their aids over the years,the Coast Guard Aids to Navigation TeamMiami tasked MDSU TWO to provide adive team with underwater cutting skills tohelp them replace and upgrade the struc-tures. MDSU TWO Det 101 was acti-vated and spent two weeks using its MKIII Lightweight Diving System and theMK 21 deep sea diving rig to complete thetask.

The dive team was equipped with,and had experience using the BROCO exo-thermic cutting system. However, uponthe recommendation of Master DiverBrown of MDSU TWO and through theEmergency Ships Salvage Material(ESSM) system the detachment acquired aKerie Cable Cutting Assembly. The diversfound the Kerie Cable system fairly easyto operate, though difficult to spell. Thedetachment used both 6 and 9 mm cable.They had the most success with the widerdiameter stock as it cut significantly thickerand faster. However, the 9 mm cable did

burn roughly twice as much oxygen as the6 mm cable.

The process to remove and replacethe steel H beam navigational aids in-volved the following:

· Pulling alongside the aid and settingthe SPUD mooring system onboardthe USCGC HUDSON (WLIC 801),

· Cutting a hole in the aid at thewaterline with topside personnel andthen attaching a shackle to take astrain from the Hudson’s boom,

· Deploying the divers to cut the aidat the mud line (typically 15 FSW)while positioning themselves on theside away from the strain,

· Completing the cut and recoveringthe divers, and

· Removing the damaged aid andsubsequently replacing it with a newone using a shipboard mechanism.

The WLIC (Inland ConstructionTender) class of USCG vessel proved tobe a very capable platform for intercoastalwaterway surface supplied diving opera-tions. These 160 foot vessels have a 70 ftboom (rated to 16,000 lbs), a draft of ap-proximately 6 ft, and a SPUD type mooringsystem enabling the craft to establish afour point moor in under a minute.

Altogether the divers replaced 23 aidsbetween Ft. Lauderdale and Key Biscayne,FL. Simultaneously, the detachment de-ployed SCUBA divers to complete a piersurvey, various ship husbandry tasks, andan emergent law enforcement survey forCoast Guard Station Miami.

“Operation Birdcage” was a good ex-ample of different groups integrating effec-tively to accomplish a common goal. Ac-tive duty MDSU TWO personnel (CDR

EQCM (DV) Mark Johnston cuts a hole, using Kerrie Cable, in an H beam in preparation forattaching a shackle and sling for removal.

(Continued on page 8)

MDSU TWO DET 101 FLIES SOUTH FOR“OPERATION BIRDCAGE”

By: LCDR Dan Daglio

8 September 2001

Scholley, HTCM/MDV Mallet andBMC/DV Finger) provided technical ex-pertise in support of their reserve coun-terparts. The ESSM system providedseamless support to the operation.Navy Divers worked in conjunction withthe USCG to provide superior Peace-time Contributory Support.

LCDR Daglio graduated from the BasicDiving Officer and Surface WarfareOfficer courses in 1991. He then spentt h r e e y e a r s o n b o a r d t h eUSS CONSERVER (ARS 39) as the shipsDiving and Operations Officer. He iscurrently the Officer-in-Charge of MobileDiving & Salvage Unit TWO Detachment101. MDSU TWO Det 101 is presentlylocated in Portland, ME but is in theprocess of moving to Newport, RI effective1 October 2001. The reserve detachment isalways looking for motivated deep seadivers and diving officers.

MR2(DV) Edgar Carey prepares to leavethe surface to begin underwater cutting

operations.

(MDSU 2 Continued from page 7)

History is the witness that testifies tothe passing of time. It sparks our

memories and gives us our only real pos-session, the remembrances of those past,the accomplishments and failures of thosewho have gone before. The only real im-pact or influence a man has is his image inthe memories of others, and being remem-bered, with fondness or with dread, en-sures immortality for us all, if only for alittle while, until our bones are dust andthe memories of our successful endeavorsand errors fade from the present con-sciousness of humanity.

Before the advent of stone memorials,the names of those who served were re-corded in scrolls of parchment to memori-alize their sacrifices to the society fromwhich they came. In keeping with this tra-dition, the Naval Diving and SalvageTraining Center has constructed the Mas-ter Diver Roll Call Wall memorial.

The “Wall”, as I will refer to it, wasthe brainchild of MMCM(MDV) JohnSchnoering, Command Master Chief of theNaval Diving and Salvage Training Center.Located in a secluded patio adjacent tothe quarterdeck at NDSTC, the wall is con-structed of concrete and stucco covered

with wooden planks. When completed itwill bear the names and decade of servicefor all U.S. Navy Master Divers, past andpresent.

According to Schnoering, “We’vehad a difficult time recovering all therecords. We pretty much have everybodyback to 1960, but from there it gets a littlehazy. Apparently there was some sort offire that destroyed all the records prior tothat. We are basically taking people’sword that they were qualified, so by wordof mouth, microfiche and other sources weare constructing the list. There is goingto be plenty of room for growth, so if wemiss someone, just let us know.”

The support for construction of thewall has been provided by NDSTC and itsCommanding Officer, CAPT(sel) M.T.Helmkamp. CAPT(sel) Helmkamp, one ofthe staunchest supporters of the MasterDiver Community and the man responsiblefor the new MDV certificates you all havehanging on your wall, was supportive ofthe project from the start.

“The Master Divers are the back-bone of the diving community and assuch, should be recognized and remem-bered for their dedication and achieve-

ments,” said CAPT (sel) Helmkamp.Completed on 1 May 2001, just in

time for the MDV/CWO Conference, the“Wall” is open to all visitors to NDSTC.The next time you are in Panama City, stopby the schoolhouse and take a look.Webster’s Dictionary defines “roll call” asa check on attendance, by calling out thenames of those expected to be present,with each of those present responding.As we are reminded at every Master DiverReunion, not all of those called will re-spond. As you stand and read off thenames of your old mentors and friendswho are no longer with us, remember themand their accomplishments. In this way,they will live forever.

MDV Edward Dryden completed SecondClass Dive Training at Panama City, Flain 1984 and First Class Dive Training in1986. He became a Master Diver in1997 and currently serves at the NavalDiving & Salvage Training Center inFleet Diving Division.

By: EMCS(MDV) Edward D. Dryden

September 2001 9

Using both his technical salvage skillsand his linguistic abilities, EM1 (SW)

Anantaporn Fields epitomizes the firstword of the annual naval exercise here: co-operation.

Born in Bangkok, Fields returnedhome this summer for Cooperation AfloatReadiness and Training exercises.CARAT strives to blend two cultures intoa cohesive, effective unit during surface,air and subsurface phases of the exercises.

“My family is living here, and I amanxious to visit my wife and take my familyhome to the United States,” said Fields. “Ihadn’t seen my son in a year and a half.”

With his unit, Mobile Diving and Sal-vage Unit One, Detachment 7, Fields trav-eled from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to Sattahipto participate in training evolutions withThai divers.

“I like to travel and see the world andhoped someday to come back to Thailandand do what I am doing now,” said the 20-year Navy veteran.

Fields’ duties normally include sal-vage support operations and maintenanceof gear such as the compressors, life sup-port systems and dive communicationssystems. Responsible for all electrical ma-chinery, Fields works intricately with boththe hardware and the people of his unit.

Colleagues from both countries sayhis translation skills make Fields invaluableto CARAT.

“They’re quite surprised when Ispeak fluent Thai,” Fields said. “I amhappy to work with the Thai divers. Themain objective is how we interact. Theyconsider this a golden opportunity tolearn.”

Fields pulls double duty working withthe salvage equipment and translating as14 Thai divers experiment with the trans-portable recompression chamber and trans-fer lock and complete familiarization diveswith the USN MK-21 dive helmet and um-bilical cord.

Fields’ expertise with the equipmentnot only aids the Thais in the technical op-erations of the training evolution, but hecan translate their reactions to the Ameri-can divers for future training purposes.When his Southeast Asian counterpartsuse hydraulic tools to cut and weld under-

water, Fields can offer technical expertise inThai as to how the divers can best utilize thetechnology in the future.

“The laws of safety have often been

mentioned throughout the dives,” saidPetty Officer First Class TanetSuankaew of the Royal Thai Navy. “Ilearned new techniques from the U.S.

U.S. Sailor Goes Home to Thailand,Trains for Deep-Sea RescueBy: Ensign Christina Skacan

(Continued on page 10)

A Thai Sailor jumps off the pier to train with divers from Mobile Diving SalvageUnit One (MDSU ONE) while participating in the Cooperation Afloat Readinessand Training (CARAT) 2001 exercise.

10 September 2001

divers. The techniques of pre and postdives are different because the Thaidivers never check - they just jump in.”

Diving and salvage work appeals toFields because of the ingenuity required tocomplete the highly intricate operations.Fields notes the need to share techniquesthrough exercises like CARAT.

“Salvage work is not something youlearn from a textbook. To salvage a shiprelies on so many factors - you have tomake it work.”

CARAT diving exercises aim to in-crease interoperability between Americanand Thai diving and salvage operations.Fields’ ability to speak to the Thai divers,

(U.S. Sailor continued from page 9)

Navy Diving Researcher Named to the Women DiversHall of Fame By: Doris Ryan

Navy members of the Womens Divers Hall of Fame who attended the 2001Beneath the Sea Conference; (left to right) Mary Bonnin, CDR Karen Kohanowich,CDR Bobbie Scholley, CAPT Karin Lynn and Dr. Susan Kayar.

What happens to a sixteen year oldgirl who gets hooked on diving –

she grows up to be a biologist, teacher,science writer, life-long student of naturalhistory, researcher and an inductee intothe Women Divers Hall of Fame.

When Susan R. Kayar, Ph.D. re-ceived the award she became a member ofan elite group that includes the most no-

table women leaders and innovators in thediving community. These women have es-tablished milestones in the many diversefields of diving. Dr. Kayar has spent thepast 10 years in the Environmental Physi-ology Department of the US Naval Medi-cal Research Center where she is currentlyHead of the Decompression Sickness Re-search Program.

Describing what she does for a liv-ing, Dr. Kayar said, “I am a research physi-ologist, and study decompression sick-ness models using simulated ultra-deepdives to 2000 feet. The award acknowl-edges my work in biochemical decompres-sion which will hopefully lead to a pill toprevent decompression sickness.” Theidea of biochemical decompression is touse bacteria, resident in the intestine, toremove gas from a diver’s body. The bac-teria act as a biochemical scrubber unit.Using laboratory models, Dr. Kayar andher research team have proven that bio-chemical decompression will lower the to-tal amount of gas being carried in thediver’s tissues during a dive and lower therisk of decompression sickness during thereturn to the surface from a deep dive.

Dr. Kayar added, “There is still alot of work to do, and it will take ten moreyears of research and a collaborationwith a pharmaceutical company to makethe pill a reality. ”

Her current studies focus onhydrogen metabolizing bacteria for deepdiving, but future plans are to extend theapproach to shallow water diving, usingbacteria that metabolize nitrogen. Dr.Kayar is working on other projects indecompression sickness as well, includ-

while they work underwater with Americantechnology, prepares them to work hand-in-hand with U.S. divers should emergencysituations occur in the future.

With six months remaining before re-tirement, Fields plans to pursue abachelor’s degree and career as an indus-trial electrician, and notes his participationin CARAT may be the most rewarding ex-perience of his career.

“My father passed away 100 daysago,” Fields said who moved to the UnitedStates 27 years ago. “I never attended hisfuneral, but since I got here, I attended hiscremation. It’s a sad story, but a goodone.”

Fields and MDSU ONE face a daunt-ing task when they complete CARAT andreturn to Pearl Harbor.

“We look forward to salvaging theEhime Maru, but right here, right now isthe highlight of my career.”

ENS Christina Skacan, USNRis the Assistant Public Affairs Officer forCARAT. She is attached to Staff ofCommander, Destroyer Squadron Oneembarked on USS Rushmore (LSD 47) forbilateral exercises with Thailand,Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. Hercurrent unit is NR Navy Office ofInformation West, Det 119.

(Hall of Fame continued on page 11)

September 2001 11

Dr. Susan Kayar, in herelement.

ing drug intervention using off the shelfmedications. These drugs are currentlyused for illnesses similar to decompres-sion sickness such as stroke andneurological damage from a spinal crushinjury. She is also looking at the possibil-ity of links between temperature exposureduring and after a dive as risk factors fordecompression sickness.

The Women Divers Hall of Fame issponsored by Beneath the Sea (a tradeorganization for divers), the UnderwaterSociety of America, the Women ScubaAssociation and Women Underwater, LTD(a publication for women divers).For more information on research con-ducted at the Naval Medical ResearchCenter visit the web sitewww.nmrc.navy.mil/.

Of the 103 mem-bers of the WomenDivers Hall of Fame, Dr.Kayar joins six otherwomen recognized fortheir dedication toNavy diving. (Bios pro-vided by Beneath theSea)

HT2 (DV) Donna M.Tobias was the firstwoman to become a USNavy Deep Sea (hardhat) Diver in 1975. Sheworked on search andsalvage operations, un-derwater repairs of sur-face ships and subma-rines, and on the con-version of two YFN(barges) into diving andsalvage liftcraft. Shealso served as a subma-rine escape instructor,hyperbaric chamber op-erator and a SCUBA in-structor at a Navy SCUBA diving school.In the late 1970’s she participated in lead-ing-edge hyperbaric treatments for medicalpurposes and the evaluation of one-per-son portable recompression chambers.

Mary J. Bonnin, with a career that spans24 years, currently holds the position of

Master Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy(Retired). After graduating at the top ofher class (in both air and mixed gas div-ing), she went on to become the onlywoman in the US Navy to qualify as Mas-ter Diver. She has trained over 1,000 mili-tary divers and worked in ship husbandry,salvage, and rescue. During her last tourshe served as the leading Naval DivingSafety Authority. The Naval UnderseaMuseum in Keyport, WA has dedicatedtheir meeting room as the Mary Bonninroom.

CDR Karen Kohanowich, as a Navy mid-shipman, supported 1000 FSW saturationdives at the Navy Experimental DivingUnit. After completing Navy Salvage andHeO2 Diving School in 1983, she served

onboard USN and Canadian diving shipsin the West Pacific, Caribbean, and NorthAtlantic. She became a NAUI instructorin 1989, and qualified as a pilot of the “Pi-sces IV” submersible in 1993. As anOceanographer, she is the Navy’s liaisonto the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration and coordinates ocean

policy and diving issues.

CDR Bobbie Scholley has been a USNavy Diving Salvage Officer since 1983.She was the Commanding Officer of a USNavy diving and salvage ship (USS BOL-STER ARS 38). Bobbie was the DivingOfficer assigned to the TWA Flight 800recovery operation (1996) and the firstwoman to be the US Navy Supervisor ofDiving. She is currently the CommandingOfficer of Mobile Diving and Salvage UnitTWO, leading over 140 sailors providingdiving and salvage support toCOMSECONDFLT, COMSIXTHFLT andCOMFIFTHFLT. As PCO of MDSU 2CDR Scholley led the emergency divingsupport for the USS Cole in Yemen.

CAPT Marie E. Knafelc entered the Navyin 1980. Since then she has been respon-sible for the diagnosis and treatment ofdiving related illnesses, evaluating divingand life support systems, planning com-pression and decompression schedulesfor saturation divers and demonstrating aworking knowledge of submarines andtheir related medical and psychologicalaspects. She is an Undersea Medical Of-ficer with the Navy Experimental DivingUnit and qualified in scuba, mixed gas andsaturation diving.

CAPT Karin Lynn joined the US Navy’sCivil Engineer Corps in 1977. In 1983 shegraduated from the Navy’s deep-sea div-ing school and went on to specialize indiving and underwater systems. She hasan ME in Ocean Engineering and she ishead of the Navy’s Ocean Facilities Pro-gram – overseeing about 250 professionalmilitary divers and ocean engineers world-wide. CAPT Lynn is an active member ofthe Women’s Aquatic Network, the Ma-rine Technological Society and related pro-fessional associations.

(Hall of Fame continued from page 10)

Doris Ryan writes about the ccomplishmentsof the Navy’s biomedical laboratoires,including Diving and Submarine Medicine.Doris started with the Naval MedicalResearch and Development Command inBethesda, Maryland and currently works atthe Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery,Naval Medical Research and Developmentdivision, Washington, DC.

12 September 2001

Engine of the submerged dredge in the Anacostia River, Washington, DC.

Acooperative effort between the DCGovernment, Naval District Washing-

ton, Army Corps of Engineers, and theNaval Reserve Diving and Salvage Com-munity to remove a sunken dredge fromthe Anacostia River, just upstream of theWashington Navy Yard, was conducted10-17 August. The wreck removal mission,part of a larger initiative to renew and revi-talize the Anacostia area, required a shortbut intensive period of operations stress-ing Army-Navy teamwork in partnershipwith private industry.

LCDR Chip Chase, OIC of MobileDiving and Salvage Unit Two Detachment507 (MDSU TWO Det 507) out of Norfolk,headed up the Navy Dive Team which in-cluded divers from reserve units as faraway as Maine and Texas as well as mem-bers of NAVSEA’s own dive unit which

supports the Supervisor of Salvage (00C).“It is an aggressive undertaking to re-move such a large hulk with the limitedtime and resources available” said LCDRChase as the project began “but we havethe capability and experience to make ithappen.”

To remove the dredge the divers ini-tially concentrated on cutting awaytopside structure and dismounting theheavy equipment internal to the hulk tolighten the dredge. The material was liftedclear of the wreck by a civilian crane andloaded on a barge provided by the ArmyCorps of Engineers for disposal. By theend of the week long operation, the heavyequipment, including a massive diesel en-gine, A-frame, and dredge head, had beenremoved with all structure above the wa-terline eliminated. The remaining hull

structure was thenpatched and fitted witha cofferdam to allowthe dredge to be re-floated with the aid oflifting barges and sal-vage pumps and towedfrom the site by thecontractor when condi-tions are right. Sponsored byNAVSEA, which pro-vided the heavyequipment and admin-istrative support, theoperation was an ex-ceptional training op-portunity for thedivers. “Salvage op-erations, like this one,provide the best train-

ing possible for our mission. There is nosubstitute for the real thing.”

This kind of dynamic win-win ap-proach in which all have a stake andachieve positive results leads to an im-proved bond between the Navy and thelocal community and is a very positivetrend in the Naval Reserve. “In this casewe benefit, the Command benefits, and theCommunity benefits,” notes LCDR Chase“It doesn’t get any better than that.”

LCDR Walt Rickert is the Operations Officerfor Naval Reserve Mobile Diving andSalvage Unit Two Detachment 507. Aqualified Engineering Duty and Diving &Salvage Officer in the Naval Reserve, Mr.Rickert is also a civilian engineer in theProgram Executive Office for TheaterSurface Combatants where he is the SeniorShip/Availability Manager for the surfacecombatants in San Diego.Naval Reservists brave the heat on the Anocostia River.

QMC(DV) Ralph Spear tended byMR2(DV) Ed Carey while BMC(DV) Don Thrushsupervises the side.

September 2001 13

MONITOR 2001

(Continued on page 14)

USS MONITOR Expedition 2001wasthe second year of a three year pro-

gram funded by the DoD Legacy Programto accomplish selective recovery of theMONITOR while gaining invaluable op-erational diving experience under verychallenging conditions for the US Navy.Again, Navy and NOAA teamed up tocomplete a very successful mission.USS MONITOR Expedition 2001 Goals

This year’s goals can be grouped intotwo categories, archeological and Navydiving. The archeological goals were thesuccessful recovery and documentation ofthe MONITOR’s 35-ton engine, recoveryof surrounding artifacts in the immediatearea, and exploratory excavation in andaround the turret in preparation for recov-ery in 2002. The goals for Navy divingwere to gain operational diving experienceunder challenging conditions and proof of

concept of using a civilian saturation div-ing system with Navy divers.

Phase I - USS GRAPPPLE April-May 2001

The USS GRAPPLE departed LittleCreek for the MONITOR Marine Sanctu-ary in April 2001 to initiate USS MONI-TOR Expedition 2001 Phase I. GRAPPLEsucceeded in positioning the spreader andsurveying the wreckage site for settlingand bottom shift compared to the previ-ous year. After installing the hydraulicram assemblies that control the raisingand lowering of the engine lifting frame(ELF), they noticed that the hydraulic con-trol valve assembly that was critical to thesafe operation of the system was experi-encing an extremely rapid oxidation reac-tion with the salt water environment. Afterconsulting Mr. Curtis Peterson, the curatorfrom the Mariner’s Museum, it was deter-mined that the corrosion was a result of theunprotected aluminum acting as an anodeto the metal structure of the bridge frameassembly. The rams were subsequently re-moved and the valves replaced preventinga potential catastrophe and possibly en-dangering the life of a diver. Following re-moval of the rams, the USS GRAPPLE be-gan replacing the chain legs that would beused to raise the ELF once the engine wasattached.Saturation diving proof of concept usinga civilian SAT system by Navy Divers This year’s mission called for the care-ful cutting, excavating and rigging of this137-year-old engine. After thoroughevaluation of what had to be accom-plished and the amount of time that itwould take, it was very obvious that satu-ration diving would be the key to givingthis mission the best chance for success.Navy divers would have to remove tons ofdebris to include coal, deck plates, andfallen metal supporting beams just to getto the engine that was inverted. All divingwould also be accomplished under thewatchful eye of the Monitor Marine Sanc-tuary director, Dr John Broadwater and hisstaff. Every dive would be recorded byseveral video cameras as work progressedon the underwater archeological site.

With this mission in mind, and the re-

cent accident of the KURSK in watersdeeper than fleet salvage capabilities,NAVSEA aggressively pursued the op-tions for use of a civilian saturation divingsystem by Navy divers. The proof of con-cept was to see how the Navy could teamwith civilian industry in providing an af-fordable and efficient deep-sea diving ca-pability without compromising safety.With the support of OPNAV N773, DivingProgram Sponsor, NAVSEA’s 00C Supervi-sor of Diving and 00C’s saturation expert,Master Diver Chuck Young, we set out toresearch and make recommendations foruse of a civilian SAT system. There arecurrently 110 qualified Navy saturationdivers in the Navy. There is a training pipe-line functional and in place. With the expe-rience that the Navy currently has, the timewas right to look at an innovative way torecapture a deep water salvage capabilityor submarine recovery capability whilesupporting this mission. To accomplishthis, would be a major step in a new direc-tion for the Navy.

The first step was to locate a SATsystem. This was no easy task in itself.The system that was chosen was based

By: LCDR Edward W. Eidsonand CAPT Chris Murray

Electronics technician Chief Petty Officer(DV) Terry J. Breaux rigs a chain fall fromthe wreck site of the USS MONITOR.

Working under the guidance of the NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) archaeologists and divers fromMobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two and 24other Navy diving commands raised thesteam engine of the USS MONITOR.

14 September 2001

ENCM(MDV) David L. Davidson, NavalSea Systems Command, gives a pre-dive brief on the tasks that are assignedfor the divers (CWO4 Rick Armstrong,CDU and DC1 James Barker, MDSUTWO) before they descend to the wrecksite of the USS MONITOR some 240 feetbelow the surface.

on its availability, affordability, and, mostimportantly, its projected successful evalu-ation by a Navy team to conduct safe div-ing. The SAT system chosen was the Glo-bal Industries 1504. The next step was toestablish an evaluation system that wouldmake the recommendation to OPNAV N773if the system would be safe to dive withacceptable risk. The evaluation team waslead by 00C4, Rob Warren, who wasteamed with 00C3, NAVSEA 395, NAVSEA05L, NEDU and the Diving and SalvageTraining Center. The task was not to cer-tify the system, but to look at the civiliancertification that a system was currentlyunder and verify that it met its own stan-dards. It was then to compare each ele-ment that differed from the Navy’s owncertification and analyze that differenceand what it meant to the overall safety ofthe diver. An exhaustive hazard analysiswas completed for each element as part ofthis process. The SAT system would thenbe used along side Mobile Diving and Sal-vage Unit TWO’s surface supplied divingteams.Diving Concept of OPS

The concept for diving operationsinvolved two surface supplied teams thatwould work 12 - hour shifts. Each teamwould routinely complete 3 to 5 sets ofdives a shift, using up to a 240/40 sched-ule. This would provide between 6 to 9hours of good working bottom time a dayfor surface supplied diving. On the SATside that was located 50 feet from the sur-face supplied side, SAT divers would com-plete two two-man bell runs per day. Eachbell run used two divers for up to fivehours bottom time for each diver. In a 24-hour period the SAT divers would oftencomplete more than 18 hours of bottomtime in a day using the two runs and four

divers. Under the best conditions, totalbottom times including all divers exceeded26 hours in a day.Phase II June-July 2001

A ten-month planning process in-volving 24 separate commands, federalagencies, and civilian contractors culmi-nated with the execution of Phase II. A299-foot civilian contracted barge fromManson Gulf, with a 500-ton crane wasloaded in Houma, Louisiana with the con-tracted Global Saturation system and all ofthe required diving and salvage equip-ment needed to complete the mission. Acombined crew from Mobile Diving andSalvage Unit TWO (MDSU TWO),NAVSEA, Phoenix International, GlobalIndustries, and Manson Gulf conductedthe loading and rigging of all the equip-ment prior to the barge’s departure fromHouma. The barge was configured to sup-port simultaneous saturation and surfacesupplied diving operations with two avail-able chambers for surface supplied decom-pression from the anticipated 238-footdives. To assist the divers there are twohydraulic articulated cranes that handledthe diver stages. The barge was also out-fitted with the Navy’s Mini Rover 2.Berthing was added to support the crewof 104 people. Seven semi truck loads ofdiving and salvage equipment, a completesaturation complex, support equipmentand one-third of the available helium sup-ply in the United States completed theloading. Transiting the barge was likewalking through a labyrinth of passagesand diesel engines stacked three storieshigh. This was home to the Salvors thatcame to the rescue of the USS MONITOR.

Following the preparation of thebarge, the Arapaho Eagle mated up andtook it under tow from Houma to

Moorhead City where diverting from astorm caused a two day delay but allowedthe embarkation of the remaining divingcrew. The saturation team and selectedNAVSEA Certification personnel had rid-den the barge during its transit to com-plete final checks and conduct training sothe saturation system would be readyupon arrival at the site. Once the storm nolonger posed a threat, the barge under towproceeded to the wreckage site and ar-rived on the 17th of June. Diving opera-tions began immediately and the remain-ing chain legs were replaced, the rams re-installed and the ELF lowered into posi-tion for engine recovery. The basic concept was to clear the bot-tom sediment and concretion from in andaround the engine to allow the engine bedframe to be rigged to the ELF from sixpoints around the center of gravity of the

system. Simple enough in concept, itproved more difficult in practice. The firststep for the surface supplied divers was toremove the condenser to gain better ac-cess under the engine. After almost threeweeks, it was determined that the con-denser was a more formidable piece ofmetal than anticipated. The decision wasmade to proceed with the condenser in

(Monitor 2001 continued from page 13)

(Monitor 2001 continued on page 16)

Hospital Corpsman Chief PettyOfficer (FMF/DV) Mike Cockril ofLong Beach, CA, assigned to MobileDiving and Salvage Unit-TWO,descends to the wrecksite of the USS MONITOR.

September 2001 15

Training is all good! It’s the lack of itthat’s not good. I don’t think there is

a diver that has complained about divertraining at NDSTC. It was the best time ofmy life.

The opportunity to become a betterdiver depends on training. There was atime everyone cringed at the thought ofsalvage training. Nowadays you’re luckyif you can get to a command that has theassets to support salvage training.

Think of training as your air supply.Without it you don’t leave the surface.Each and every diver should plan their ca-reer path, so they can receive all the differ-ent kinds of training that will enable themto be the best they can be. As a secondclass diver I started with the salvage sidefirst (USS EDENTON ATS 1). There I wasable to get all those qualifications and shipboard experience to be a good sailor, notto mention salvage and mixed gas trainingthat would be very helpful during FirstClass diver / supervisor training. Alongwith successful training comes more re-sponsibility.

As a Second Class Petty Officer andFirst Class diver onboard EMORY S LAND(AS 39) I spent many hours under and insubmarines. I remember having the cham-ber guard and being the only dive super-visor onboard when an ambulance arrivedwith a patient who had embolized (AGE).You talk about the dog shaking and razorblades, you should have seen my watcheswhen we left surface pressing the chamberto 165 feet. Once the patient was stableand improving the Master Diver and Chief

showed up. Thanks guys.Stationed at SIMA Little

Creek, I continued my training inthe underwater ship husbandryarena to include advanced certi-fied underwater welding proce-dures. BMCM (MDV) Radecki(Rags) kept us plenty busy and Ihave to say the training we re-ceived was tough and very ef-fective. I remember Rags sayingif you want to be a Chief youneed to get back to the salvageships. My next set of orderswould further develop my diver know-how.

Onboard USS GRAPPLE (ARS 53)Captain Bob Honey felt I could best serveas the Damage Control Assistant. Somuch for the diving. I did make Chief andtraining once again played an essentialrole. This time I was the one most respon-sible for it. If your goal in the Navy is tomake chief, take advantage of the qualifi-cations you can achieve (CDO, OOD,JOOD, DCA, EOOW, MPA etc.). Get thetraining and do it. I learned a lot on thosesalvage ships, unfortunately there aren’tmany left these days. Before leavingGRAPPLE, I was given two choices forduty. La Madalena or MDV evaluations.You can’t hunt white tail deer or wild tur-keys in La Madalena.

Training pays off! Being a MasterDiver is rewarding in many ways. To bean effective Master Diver you must haveadvanced diving knowledge in all fields ofNavy diving (SALVAGE,UWSH,SPECWAR and EOD), a good understand-

ing of how the Navy’s diving program ismanaged and funded at all levels and musttrain others to do your job as those whotrained you to do theirs. If you are a moti-vated Navy deep sea diver looking for agreat job, plan your career path and get thetraining that is required. Experience thebest job in the Navy, Master Diver. I as-sure you it is one of the most honorablepositions in today’s Navy.

MDV Gary Furr Joined the Navy in July of1982. He was Selected Master Diver in Aprilof 1992 and his current Command isEODMU TWO (Master Diver). His pastCommands include Naval Special WarfareGroup Two (Master Diver), USS PugetSound AD 38 (Master Diver), NDSTC(MDV evals), USS Grapple ARS 53 (1st

Class Diver), SIMA Little Creek (1st ClassDiver), USS Emory S Land AS 39 (1st ClassDiver), NDSTC (1st Class Diver Training),USS Edenton ATS 1 (2nd Class Diver), andPearl Harbor, Hawaii (2nd Class DiverTraining).

By: HTCM(MDV) Gary L. Furr

MDV Furr

(Monitor 2001 continued from page 14)

place. The saturation team’s initial taskwas to remove deck plates to gain accessto the engine from above and begin con-necting the lifting points to the ELF. Oncethe bottom plating was removed, the first

four attachments were achieved after fivedays of hand chiseling coal covering theengine bed frame. The final two attach-ments, which were the critical points be-cause the first four were on one side of thecenter of gravity, proved to be more chal-lenging. It was thought that access to theafter part of the engine could be achievedto cinch a strap around the bed frame.The coal that was in the engine roomwhen the USS MONITOR sank had re-acted with the iron of the wreck and cre-ated a concretion around the engine thatwas as hard as rock. Since access hadbeen gained under the engine bed frameon the forward side of the aft engine bulk-head, two holes, approximately ten inchesin diameter, were cut through the two-inchsolid wrought iron bed frame on eitherside of the engine. These holes were usedto connect a shackle to a padeye that hadbeen welded to a section of I-beam andplaced under each side of the engine bedframe. From these padeyes, a shackle andturnbuckle were connected to the ELF to

allow lifting of the engine.Special tools and techniques were

developed to accomplish many of the re-quired tasks. An eductor setup with anexcavation nozzle was designed and fabri-

cated by theNAVSEA ESSMBase and MDSUTWO. This wasused to removesand and silt with-out removing arti-facts. A hydro-blaster was used toremoved concretionand coal depositsand prepare metalfor cutting. A hy-draulic tool manifoldwas employed al-lowing multiple

tools to be operated from the same hy-draulic power unit. Umbilical managementtechniques, diver handling systems, andmanned portable davits were used to allowthe divers to operate beyond the normalsea state and current limits of surface sup-plied diving.

This process provided the requisitenumber of lifting points and the enginewas raised from the wreckage just overthree weeks after the divers arrived on site.Once free from the wreckage, slings wereconnected to the entire bridge frame as-sembly, and the 120-ton assembly with theengine suspended underneath began its238-foot transit to the surface. After sur-facing, it was placed on a Lockwood Ma-rine barge and transported to NewportNews Shipbuilding where it was preparedfor further transfer to the Mariner’s Mu-seum. It arrived at the Mariner’s Museumon the 7th of August and will remain in adesalination tank for the next ten yearsbefore it can be restored and put on dis-play.

CDR Bobbie Scholley, CommandingOfficer of MDSU TWO, stated, “MONI-TOR Expedition 2001 was a huge successfrom both archeological and Navy trainingperspectives. The training and experienceprovided to 148 Navy Divers from 24 dif-ferent commands this year will pay bigdividends for Navy Diving. We alsoshowed that we can safely and success-fully conduct a large scale, real world op-eration using a commercial saturation sys-tem with US Navy Divers. This provides atremendous amount of flexibility for futurecooperation between the military andcommercial diving communities and givesus added capability to handle any contin-gency. This operation proved to be awonderful retention and recruitment tool!”

In the final analysis, the proceduresdeveloped, refined, trained, and practicedthis year, and in years past, near the limitsof surface supplied diving, current, andsea states have produced refined and in-novative techniques that will become stan-dard operating procedures for years tocome. Throughout this arduous operation,in less than optimal conditions, and whileoperating around the clock, the only div-ing related injury that required treatmentwas one case of type II DCS.

LCDR Eidson was commissioned in 1988from the University of Kansas with a degreein mechanical engineering. FollowingSurface Warfare Officers School and Divingand Salvage Training, he was assigned tothe rescue and salvage ship USS HOIST(ARS 40). While assigned to the USSHOIST, LCDR Eidson served as Diving andSalvage Officer. Following graduation fromthe War College, LCDR Eidson was assignedas Executive Officer, Mobile Diving andSalvage Unit TWO. LCDR Eidson hasexpertise in air and mixed gas Diving,Salvage, explosive ordnance operationsthroughout South East Asia, SpecialOperations Forces support, and is a NavalParachutist.

AAAAATTENTIONTTENTIONTTENTIONTTENTIONTTENTIONIf you are experiencing a problem reaching a department or person within the Supervisorof Salvage office, try calling the central number at 202-781-1731 then follow theinstructions.