and crossed the Munda Bar to anchor close to the lagoon.
"Some of the charts we were working off for Munda were
created in the 1860s, so prior to crossing the bar and heading to
Sasavelle a navy hydrographic team led by petty officer Thomas
Nuttall did an advance survey," says Wellington's commanding
officer lieutenant commander Phil Rowe.
"The team strapped transducers to the hull of a Zodiac and
spent a couple of days creating charts so we knew where we
could go. Amazingly, the charts from the 1860s were still
accurate and Wellington was able to cross the Munda Bar."
"It was quite nerve wracking looking down and seeing the
coral as we crossed the bar, but because of the charts the team
had created we knew we had a safe 1.5 metre clearance."
Once anchored in the lagoon, the ship acted as the forward
operating base for the EOD teams and the ships company helped
on the ground.
VIP.S72
IP S72
Discovered underwater remnants
from the second world war
The first phase of the operation on Sasavelle Island was a
success, with the teams clearing all known ordnance off the
island, which included 1,500 90mm high explosive projectiles
found in the lagoon.
EOD team leader chief petty officer diver Rangi Ehu said it
was a huge effort from all the team and that it is a great
feeling knowing they have made Sasavelle Island a safer
place to live.
"It was a tough job in very hot conditions but our ordnance
disposal teams are very well trained and they did an
excellent job on Sasavelle. We then moved on to Rendova,
which was the United States militaries main operating base
during the battle of Munda."
"Once we'd cleared all known ordnance we turned our
attention to the village of Munda, and the surrounding
jungle and sea floor."
"It was a very rewarding operation and the local
population was stoked to have us there. I, for one, am
extremely proud of the work we did in making their part
of the world a little bit safer."
The final phase of the operation wrapped up in the
last week of July, with Manawanui returning to
Devonport naval base on July 31.
www.skipper.co.nz
VIP.S88
Once we'd cleared all known
ordnance we turned our attention
to the village of Munda, and the
surrounding jungle
CREW VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Help keep the call of the by-gone era of steam alive.
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers, men and women,
to join our crew so the old hands may pass the skills of
yesteryear to the next generation of guardians of our heritage
steam tug William C Daldy. No experience necessary.
Are you interested in working boilers, steam engines or
just being on deck to learn new skills or refresh the old,
be it steam, engineering or seamanship? Do you enjoy
making new friends and the camaraderie of the sea?
If you answer yes, then please contact:
Alex Franklin, 027 568 8623 or Richard Parmee, 021 659 800
www.daldy.com
September/October 2013 Professional Skipper 73
