http://www.lookoutnewspaper.com/ice-div ... on-nanook/
Ice diving at -50°C, Operation Nanook
Mar 25, 2020
Operation Nanook-Nunalivut
Leading Seaman Bryan Ogle, clearance diver from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), completes an ice dive in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
Photo by Corporal David Veldman, Dive Task Force Imagery Technician
Lt(N) Éliane Trahan, Dive Task Force Public Affairs Officer
Operation Nanook takes place each year across the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Labrador. It features up to five deployments throughout the year.
One of these deployments was Operation Nanook-Nunalivut in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, which involved the Dive Task Force, from March 2 to 17 with 31 divers from Canada, Finland, France, and Belgium.
Clearance Divers, Combat Divers and Port Inspection Divers from the Army and the Navy as well as a Finnish Diver wearing the Air Force uniform were all involved.
The Inuit community of Rankin Inlet has approximately 2,000 residents and is one of the most important communities in Canada’s North. It’s a meeting place and hub for the region with all flights to the Kivalliq passing through the bustling Rankin Inlet Airport.
The increase in traffic creates new safety and security risks. Canada must be prepared to conduct search and rescue, and to respond to natural and man-made disasters.
Operations such as Nanook-Nunalivut demonstrate the presence and capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic and improve readiness in the region. It is also an opportunity to work with Canadian partners in the North such as members of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. They provided advice and facilitated a smooth integration for the military members into an Arctic environment.
“Although winter dive conditions in Halifax consist of cold waters below five degrees Celsius, we rarely have the opportunity to conduct ice-diving operations in the Arctic,” said Lt(N) Kristopher Hicks, Dive Team Officer in Charge. “The dive team’s presence in Rankin Inlet enabled us to revalidate our procedures, test our equipment, and prove our ability to dive and conduct light salvage operations in a harsh and unforgiving environment. The conduct of dive operations in the Arctic, in temperatures below -50 degrees Celsius, present many unique challenges relating primarily to equipment temperatures and freeze-up. There are additional variables and mitigation measures that must be thoughtfully considered to ensure successful operations.”
During the operation at Rankin Inlet, divers participated in recovering pieces of a CF-18 aircraft wing. They explored the seabed at a depth of 15 meters and exercised their skills under the ice using the Ultra-Light Surface Supplied Diving System, and the Ice Diving Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus configuration with communications and video.
Mar 25, 2020
Operation Nanook-Nunalivut
Leading Seaman Bryan Ogle, clearance diver from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), completes an ice dive in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
Photo by Corporal David Veldman, Dive Task Force Imagery Technician
Lt(N) Éliane Trahan, Dive Task Force Public Affairs Officer
Operation Nanook takes place each year across the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Labrador. It features up to five deployments throughout the year.
One of these deployments was Operation Nanook-Nunalivut in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, which involved the Dive Task Force, from March 2 to 17 with 31 divers from Canada, Finland, France, and Belgium.
Clearance Divers, Combat Divers and Port Inspection Divers from the Army and the Navy as well as a Finnish Diver wearing the Air Force uniform were all involved.
The Inuit community of Rankin Inlet has approximately 2,000 residents and is one of the most important communities in Canada’s North. It’s a meeting place and hub for the region with all flights to the Kivalliq passing through the bustling Rankin Inlet Airport.
The increase in traffic creates new safety and security risks. Canada must be prepared to conduct search and rescue, and to respond to natural and man-made disasters.
Operations such as Nanook-Nunalivut demonstrate the presence and capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic and improve readiness in the region. It is also an opportunity to work with Canadian partners in the North such as members of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. They provided advice and facilitated a smooth integration for the military members into an Arctic environment.
“Although winter dive conditions in Halifax consist of cold waters below five degrees Celsius, we rarely have the opportunity to conduct ice-diving operations in the Arctic,” said Lt(N) Kristopher Hicks, Dive Team Officer in Charge. “The dive team’s presence in Rankin Inlet enabled us to revalidate our procedures, test our equipment, and prove our ability to dive and conduct light salvage operations in a harsh and unforgiving environment. The conduct of dive operations in the Arctic, in temperatures below -50 degrees Celsius, present many unique challenges relating primarily to equipment temperatures and freeze-up. There are additional variables and mitigation measures that must be thoughtfully considered to ensure successful operations.”
During the operation at Rankin Inlet, divers participated in recovering pieces of a CF-18 aircraft wing. They explored the seabed at a depth of 15 meters and exercised their skills under the ice using the Ultra-Light Surface Supplied Diving System, and the Ice Diving Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus configuration with communications and video.
http://www.lookoutnewspaper.com/clearan ... eployment/
Clearance diver’s unique, and cold, deployment
Mar 19, 2020
Photo by Sgt Sam Ladd, US Army
Antarctica is the coldest of the Earth’s continents, which might explain the name of a recent US-led mission entitled Operation Deep Freeze.
From December to February, United States Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, a heavy icebreaker, made its 23rd deployment on the annual joint U.S. military service mission to resupply the U.S. Antarctic stations in support of the National Science Foundation, the lead agency for the U.S. Antarctic Program.
Joining the United States Coast Guard dive team was LS Jeff Dubinsky, a Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) clearance diver.
The 122 metre, 13,000-ton Polar Star produced a 37-kilometre channel through the one to four-metre-thick ice to McMurdo Station.
The three-week process to cut the ice enabled the offload of over 19.5 million pounds of dry cargo and 7.6 million gallons of fuel from three merchant vessels. All three ships combined offloaded enough supplies to ensure the research station has provisions until 2021.
Supplies are critical for the science station’s daily operations and are integral to the National Science Foundation’s massive overhaul of McMurdo Station. It is in the midst of a $355 million construction project to remove 104 buildings around the research station and create a central hub of six main structures. The structures will contain science labs, operations offices, and accommodations for the station. Construction is scheduled to finish in 2026.
As a member of the dive team, LS Dubinsky integrated with the United States Coast Guard and U.S. Army Dive teams in Honolulu, Hawaii, for a workup dive, ice dive theory training, and embarkation on Polar Star. The ship transit from Hawaii to Antarctica took a month with a port call in Hobart, Tasmania. Upon arrival on the continent, the ship was greeted by large ice flows, 24-hour sunlight, and pods of killer whales following the ship.
The dive team provided the icebreaker an emergency diving and underwater repair capability. During the 42 days at sea, between Hobart and the port visit to McMurdo Station, the dive team was needed to dive beneath the ice.
As the ship transited through the ice, Polar Star’s propellers crushed the remaining large chunks in its path. Underwater mechanical issues can arise from the rough vibrations passed through the ship’s propeller shafts.
The first dive required the dive team to inspect the ship’s propellers and rudder system for damage. Post inspection, the team continued their dive underneath the ice flow.
“The cool water temperature stops the growth of most algae and underwater contaminates, which creates extremely clear visibility,” said LS Dubinsky. “Four divers descended to the seabed floor and found an amazing cold water ecosystem filled with coral, starfish, leopard seals and krill.”
Diving under the ice presents dangers to both the divers and the team supporting the dive. The ice flow can close the access hole to divers while underwater, the below freezing temperatures of the environment can create equipment freeze ups, and personnel working to support the divers can be affected by the harsh weather outside the ship.
“Having the opportunity to deploy with the USCG to Antarctica, and dive in such a remote and extreme environment was an unbelievable experience,” said LS Dubinsky.
Mar 19, 2020
Photo by Sgt Sam Ladd, US Army
Antarctica is the coldest of the Earth’s continents, which might explain the name of a recent US-led mission entitled Operation Deep Freeze.
From December to February, United States Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, a heavy icebreaker, made its 23rd deployment on the annual joint U.S. military service mission to resupply the U.S. Antarctic stations in support of the National Science Foundation, the lead agency for the U.S. Antarctic Program.
Joining the United States Coast Guard dive team was LS Jeff Dubinsky, a Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) clearance diver.
The 122 metre, 13,000-ton Polar Star produced a 37-kilometre channel through the one to four-metre-thick ice to McMurdo Station.
The three-week process to cut the ice enabled the offload of over 19.5 million pounds of dry cargo and 7.6 million gallons of fuel from three merchant vessels. All three ships combined offloaded enough supplies to ensure the research station has provisions until 2021.
Supplies are critical for the science station’s daily operations and are integral to the National Science Foundation’s massive overhaul of McMurdo Station. It is in the midst of a $355 million construction project to remove 104 buildings around the research station and create a central hub of six main structures. The structures will contain science labs, operations offices, and accommodations for the station. Construction is scheduled to finish in 2026.
As a member of the dive team, LS Dubinsky integrated with the United States Coast Guard and U.S. Army Dive teams in Honolulu, Hawaii, for a workup dive, ice dive theory training, and embarkation on Polar Star. The ship transit from Hawaii to Antarctica took a month with a port call in Hobart, Tasmania. Upon arrival on the continent, the ship was greeted by large ice flows, 24-hour sunlight, and pods of killer whales following the ship.
The dive team provided the icebreaker an emergency diving and underwater repair capability. During the 42 days at sea, between Hobart and the port visit to McMurdo Station, the dive team was needed to dive beneath the ice.
As the ship transited through the ice, Polar Star’s propellers crushed the remaining large chunks in its path. Underwater mechanical issues can arise from the rough vibrations passed through the ship’s propeller shafts.
The first dive required the dive team to inspect the ship’s propellers and rudder system for damage. Post inspection, the team continued their dive underneath the ice flow.
“The cool water temperature stops the growth of most algae and underwater contaminates, which creates extremely clear visibility,” said LS Dubinsky. “Four divers descended to the seabed floor and found an amazing cold water ecosystem filled with coral, starfish, leopard seals and krill.”
Diving under the ice presents dangers to both the divers and the team supporting the dive. The ice flow can close the access hole to divers while underwater, the below freezing temperatures of the environment can create equipment freeze ups, and personnel working to support the divers can be affected by the harsh weather outside the ship.
“Having the opportunity to deploy with the USCG to Antarctica, and dive in such a remote and extreme environment was an unbelievable experience,” said LS Dubinsky.