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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1993-94: VUWAE 38

Loss of Vibracorer in Granite Harbour

Loss of Vibracorer in Granite Harbour

Normal checks and operating procedures were followed in this, the first deployment for the season. We arrived on the evening of November 22 and made the access hole in 2.3 m thick fast ice the following day. The vibracorer was assembled and operating systems checked. A small leak in the hydraulic system was stopped. On November 24 the weather was fine but overcast with an air temperature estimated at −5°C in the afternoon. Initially we had a leak in the air compensation system when the corer was first immersed, so it was returned to the surface and the air regulators washed and dried. On the second immersion of the corer the air compensation system functioned correctly, the weight of the corer was transferred to the winch rope and the chain hoist disconnected. Lowering of the corer proceeded until the winch rope eye was 3 or 4 m below the surface, when the rope parted, letting the corer free-fall about 350 m to the sea floor, The time was 1550 hrs.