Daily Routine

Operations are daylight only, this means we expect to have the TBT at 6am and be ready for launch around 7am once all deck checks are completed. The schedule has been constructed based on 8:30hrs of in water time and the remainder of the day is allocated for pre & post dive checks/charging/vehicle wash down/data backup.
Then in the evening we all play Rummikub, this is mandatory.

TBT

Held every morning prior to starting work, the QHSE officer (Gerald) likes doing it on the back deck and gives us a 'pep talk' about whatever safety initiative he trying to peddle that particular day. During the mobilisation he has requested that we email him each evening with our plans for the next 24 hours, his email can be found here. The TBTs will cover the days activities, launch/recovery of the vehicle and the survey plan for the day, all involved departments will participate - Manta, bridge crew, LARS operators, survey personnel, QHSE officer and Shell Rep.
I would also expect there to be a second one held prior to recovery, just to reiterate to main points, mostly for bridge.
A blank form can be found here.

Radio Etiquette

At Shells request we have adopted a number of standard phrases to use when on comms, this is to help all personnel on the project know exactly what we mean when asking as English isn't everybodys first language. Below is what we have so far, but currently unsure exactly what we will need.

Phrase	Meaning
ALL STOP	EMERGENCY STOP. Vessel comes to a complete stop as fast as possible
Controlled Stop	Vessel slows and comes to a stop This helps with managing the tether
Commenced survey	To let the bridge know we are now on task and that they need to warn us of any vessel movements/debris or problems that might mean they need to deviate from the survey line
Survey Speed	Approximately 2kts

Simplified Deployment & Recovery Procedure

Again at Shells request, Mubarack, has requested we produce a simplified step by step guide for the deployment and recovery of the vehicle and garage. This has been distributed to all departments, to ensure everyone is fully aware of the steps and what to expect at each stage of deployment and recovery. This is the first draft and it is open for improvements.
When the shell rep Steve Keedwell was onboard, end of October, he warned us that you sometimes get mats of vegetation that flow down the river. They can collect "hitchhikers", including snakes and other dangerous creatures!

Meetings and Calls

Currently having a 0845 call with Bright and the office, to get a better understanding what the plan for the day is, and then at 1600(UK time) another with just the Manta office. This is only during the mobilisation phase. Daily progress meetings once we start operations are unclear at the moment.

Pre & Post Dive Checklists

Pre & Post Dive Checklist document is filled out and uploaded to Caiman at the end of each day.

DPR

The DPR is being filled out in Caiman, which personally I hate, the spread laptop has access to this. We are sending the DPR to Tochi and the Party Chief each evening (emails can be found here.)

Dive Log

Dive Log is to be filled out during operations, and it is slightly more detailed than the DPR (which is broad strokes and sweeping statements).

Instructions for the operation of SprintNAV

These instructions are from Jimmy (Saab) on the correct sequence of events for activating the USBL input into the SprintNAV. Please be aware that there will be an element of trial and error with this as we haven't used the SprintNAV in anger. We have had promising tests with survey during integration, with a beacon hung over the vessel side and a feed directly from the GAPS USBL system into the sprintNAV via the HMI.
This page also contains the notes on how to change beacon IDs, offsets and C-Os.

Video Recording

During the trials and meetings in the build up to this project I asked how SubSea100 were going to record the video, I was categorically told that it was not a requirement of the project. Our contract with Fadfae doesn't mention the provision of video in any format, streamed or recorded. This seems odd for a pipeline survey.
During mobilisation we were asked by survey about video feeds and Shell inquired about video recording capabilities. The office has mentioned that we can give survey an output and we were planning on recording the forward cameras during operations in case something were to happen to the vehicle. Survey are planning on recording video using Eiva, which means they have are using the IP streams as shown below.
The AXIS Decoders are available if we need to send the data elsewhere, they convert the IP streams into a DVI and composite output. NOTE they are currently configured for composite.

Camera	Stream address
Camera 1 – Rear Colour	rtsp://192.168.0.201/axis-media/media.amp
Camera 2 – FWD B/W Colour	rtsp://192.168.0.202/axis-media/media.amp
Camera 3 – FWD Fisheye	rtsp://192.168.0.203/axis-media/media.amp
Channel 5 - HD Camera	rtsp://192.168.0.205/axis-media/media.amp

These instructions show how to add overlay to the camera feed from the vehicle and sychronise time with the video server with the vehicle.

Data Backups

SprintNAV Data Download

At the end of each dive the sprintNAV log files should be downloaded. This is done through the LodeStar Utility found on the desktop of the RAC under the 'File Transfer' tab, locate the current day folder in the 'Lodestar SD Card' pane, select the files to download. On the RAC choose folder D:/Log/SprintNAV as the destination to save the files.

Backup to NAS

We are running a free version of SyncBack on the survey computer...don't tell the office, the plan is to run the backup every evening. Ensure you the NAS drive on and you have connection to the vehicle and press "▶ Run" to start the backup. This might take a long time due to the volume of data, considering you will be recording video locally. Disk space will need to be monitored closely on the RAC and old log files deleted regularly once they are confirmed to have been fully backed up.

AOB

Unacceptable Welding Practices

Upon arrival on the vessel concerns were raised regarding the quality of the welds for the mezz deck, an 'All Stop' was called for Manta operations on the vessel, a report was compiled and sent to Fadfae.
Fadfae have enlisted a third party DNV registered company (Bureau Veritas) to inspect the welds, advise what needs to be done and complete the works with qualified welders. Getting this report out of Fadfae has been painful, probably because they never got one and we have concerns about whether there has been any dirty dealings or cut corners to speed up the whole process. We are still waiting for the BV report and until that is signed off by the office we won't be sailing. Manta management have also approached an Naval Architect for comments on the structure, hopefully get there finding shortly...we don't know if this is going to be bad or really bad.

Near Miss Incident

No sooner had we been given the go ahead to start loading our equipment, we had a near miss. The small link cable between the LARS winch cable and garage bullet parted while latched in, this threw the winch cable up over the sheave wheel and onto the quayside. Luckily no one was hurt and it was all caught on camera, the investigation is still on going. The garage stayed in the latches and was released at the next day. It is currently being inspected for damage around the lift point.

Fadfae appear to be trying to rush and get us back to work, but unfortunately the incident is being classified as a high potential near miss. Which comes with its own investigation, rectification and close out procedure before work can continue. I assume they are hemorrhaging money at this point.
We are still waiting on several items to be resolved or replaced, and there is an actions list from Shell that needs completing prior to all this being signed off.

Nigerian Safety, Reporting and Communication

The simple answer here is there isn't any of these things.

1. Safety - They preach the same safety standards as we are used to. Only in the next breath to contradict themselves by doing something completely different, and tell you it is fine stop worrying.
   Repeatably see them without PPE on the back deck with the excuse "I'll only be a minute". We've told them they have to wear PPE, and then later we see them doing the exact same thing. Information doesn't sink in!
   They seem to think it is okay for the surveyors to climb over the bulwarks and hang off the side of the vessel to secure they USBL pole in the down position. He has a harness and a life vest, so everything must be okay.
2. Reporting - SOC cards go missing if they don't want the information getting back to the beach, so take pictures of any cards you might submit. There are plenty of things to report, so you won't have an issue putting in a couple a day. The Medic reports that people are okay, even after 2 of the guys went to him with dodgy stomachs that very morning.
3. Communication - or lack thereof! Sailing without any warning, no 24 hour look ahead or dive plans being produced at the moment. Nobody seems to have a clue on what they are doing here, I am not even sure who is in charge. I would have expected the PC to take a more active roll in planning, or the Fadfae Project Engineer? There is no offshore manager, so ultimately nobody in control of what is going on. Everything is reactive!!

The national average IQ is 68, and I can believe it.

Nairobi Fly

Found out today from Keith, out local pilot, that there is an insect that if squashed against your skin releases an acid that causes skin irritation.

Crew Changes

Shell do not expect to be doing any interim crew changes once the vessel sails, expecting to sail as soon as out mobilisation is complete and the current projected duration is 30 days. Worth noting that the vessel only has fresh stores for 20 days and dry stores for 30, so I guess there might be an opportunity at around that period if things were to run on.

Marine Crew and Vessel Control

No idea, the language barrier might be an issue and the fact that they have never done a survey before. With everything going on we haven't yet had talks with the bridge crew about how we will need the vessel setup, how we expect them to follow the line etc.

Cabin Allocation

Cabins are basic and the beds a little firmer than we'd like. The temperature can get be a little warm and then cold as the night progresses, but the Chief Engineer has said once the main engines are on things should be better. Showers are a little hit and miss, obviously the system is struggling with a full capacity crew compliment. It took 2 weeks for them to fit shower curtains and towels seem in short supply. The steward does his best to keep them clean and tidy, so can't fault that.

Room	Crew Members
206	Tom Bank & Alan Leech
205	Martin Hayes & Taylor Middleton
216	Keith Akogun

Meal times

During the mobilisation I have been down at 5:30am, but no breakfast has been available. I hope that once the project starts the times will be adhered to more strictly, if not then something will have to be mentioned. The food has been perfectly edible and some meals even quite nice. There is a lack of vegetables & fruit on board, only one meal option and some days the portions are meager....but I'm sure we could all do with dropping a few pounds? There are biscuits and soda in the stores, and the Captain has chocolate, but there seems to be a a reluctance to share them out and we have to badger them to get anything extra.

Laundry

The laundry room is located just inside accommodation on the port side, the vessel hasn't supplied any form of laundry bag...so bring your own. You are best off letting the steward know when you have a load, as he doesn't do the everyone's washing and other crew are using the laundry. He is pretty swift at getting it done, about the only thing that works correctly on this boat.

Reps/PC

Shell Rep, Mubarak - loves a list. He seems to be treating us well, but speaks down to the Nigerian Crew (I don't like it, I find it quite rude). He has said if we have issues we should talk to him and try to solve them internally, obviously if it's safety or equipment related I would still include the office. He comes from a land survey background, and don't think he has had much offshore survey experience.
CSL Rep, Jaja - Not really sure, have only spoken to him a few time. Again, seems nice enough.
Fadfae Engineer, Tochi - Nice, smiley...out of his depth.

Survey Team

1. Karim Peters (Party Chief)
2. Micheal Osaigbovo (Snr. DP)
3. Sunday Alabi (GEO)
4. Comson Iyamisigh (DP)
5. Brown Lloyd Clinton (SvyTech/Online Surveyor)
6. Abasiama Okon Ituen (GEO)

PC, Karim - Like the rest of his team, he seems a little disinterested and clueless. Seems harmless enough and is good for a chat.
Surveyors/Processors/Geos - To be honest, they all seem like nice lads...I just get a general sense of disinterest, and I have concerns about their ability to do the job efficiently, collect good quality data and in a timely fashion. I think there is going to be a lot of faffing around. It has been difficult dealing with them at times, and I've had to fix a couple of things to us.
It took a couple of weeks to get dimcon results for the USBL beacon from them and they didn't even do the HPR for the vehicle!? I gave them the sprintNAV values on the day, explained where to take the measurements and I have kept asking for C-Os for the last couple of weeks. I managed to get an answer yesterday (2nd November), they didn't measure it!!