Finding HMAS Sydney (II)

Summary of Events

The following is an excerpt from Section 7.0 of the Final Report.

Side Scan Sonar Survey Phase
Date Event
  • Survey vessel Geosounder alongside in Singapore.
  • Mobilise Williamson & Associates (W&A) deep-tow sonar winches on board vessel.
  • Mobilise DOF's remotely operated vehicle (ROV).
  • Vessel departs Singapore for Geraldton, Western Australia (WA).
  • W&A equipment container arrives in Fremantle, WA.
  • W&A advance party arrives in Perth, WA, to coordinate shipment of equipment to Geraldton, WA.
  • HAZID meeting held at DOF's offices in Perth.
  • Client representatives Patrick Flynn, David Mearns, John Perryman, Robert Bruinsma and Glenys McDonald arrive in Geraldton from Perth.
  • Remaining W&A sonar team from Seattle, USA, and DOF survey personnel from Perth arrive in Geraldton.
  • DOF job safety induction for all newly joining personnel.
  • All personnel visit HMAS Sydney (II) Memorial in Geraldton.
  • Survey vessel arrives alongside in Geraldton Port.
  • Commence mobilisation of W&A sonar equipment.
  • Victuals on board vessel.
  • DOF job safety induction for recently arrived Geosounder crew.
  • Continue mobilisation of W&A sonar equipment and set up survey laboratory and client office on board.
  • Commence welding works for A-frame beam installation (for sonar sheave block).
  • Vessel fuel bunkering completed.
  • Complete welding works and load testing of A-frame beam installation.
  • Conduct wet test and systems checks for SM-30 and AMS-60 sonar equipment.
  • VSAT internet system repaired and verified.
  • Sea-fasten all equipment prior to departure for sea trials.
  • Vessel underway when fuel leak discovered in engine room.
  • Vessel at anchor off Geraldton to investigate fuel leak.
  • Vessel returns to Geraldton Port to carry out repairs to leaking fuel tank.
  • Offload fuel from damaged tank.
  • Set up and test AMS-60 sonar system and troubleshoot problems with the B1 winch tow cable.
  • Fuel tank repairs carried out, and tested by DNV surveyor.
  • Tank refilled.
  • Vessel standing by awaiting port pilot.
  • Depart Geraldton and transit to sea trials site west of the Abrolhos Islands.
  • Muster drill held for all crew on board.
  • Arrive on site and undertake sea trials of the SM-30 and AMS-60 sonar equipment.
  • Transit to the wreck search area.
  • Set up search run-line database.
  • Continue and complete transit to search area.
  • Arrive on site and commence survey operations with the SM-30 sonar towfish deployed (6km swath setting).
  • Continue survey operations. (SM-30 sonar not functioning optimally.)
  • Complete survey run-line and recover SM-30 towfish to determine sonar system faults.
  • Complete repairs and tests to SM-30 sonar.
  • Deploy SM-30 towfish and re-commence survey operations (SM-30 sonar still not functioning optimally).
  • Monitor tropical cyclone “Ophelia”.
  • Commence recovery of SM-30 towfish and head NE to avoid cyclone.
  • Complete recovery of SM-30 towfish and repair remaining faults.
  • Vessel running NE to avoid cyclone “Ophelia” (category 1).
  • Vessel standing by waiting on weather while heading for launch point, north of site.
  • Deploy SM-30 towfish and re-commence survey operations (SM-30 sonar still not functioning optimally).
  • Set up BWR CODA system to acquire and monitor sonar imagery in client office.
  • Complete survey run-line and recover SM-30 towfish to determine sonar system faults.
  • Complete repairs and tests to SM-30 sonar and redeploy towfish.
  • Continue survey operations until termination due to systems fault.
  • Safety meeting held, attended by all department heads.
  • Recover SM-30 towfish and commence repairs.
  • Vessel standing by awaiting completion of repairs prior to launch.
  • Vessel standing by awaiting completion of repairs prior to launch.
  • Launch SM-30 towfish and re-commence survey operations.
  • Undertake fire drill and muster.
  • Continue survey operations.
  • Kormoran wreck site identified at AWT ( ).
  • Continue survey operations with search run-line extended over sonar targets identified south of the survey area.
  • Extra run-line runs on 3km swath setting to investigate sonar targets. (Sonar targets discounted as geological outcrops).
  • Continue survey operations.
  • Run-line Line 10 terminated to run two high resolution (1.5km and 750m swath) survey lines to investigate Kormoran wreck site.
  • Commence high resolution (750m swath) search survey line to investigate possible ‘battle site’ location (found to be geological outcrops during the ROV inspection phase).
  • Complete high resolution (750m swath) survey line over possible battle site.
  • Recommence survey operations with continuation of run-line Line 10 (6km swath setting) to continue search for Sydney wreck.
  • Small boat transfer of fresh provisions to, and EP Pictures’ videos from, vessel (Survey operations suspended).
  • Continue survey operations.
  • Sydney wreck site identified at AWT ( ). Run-line Line 12 terminated.
  • High resolution (3km and 1.5km swath) survey lines run to investigate Sydney wreck site.
  • Commence and complete high resolution (750m swath) survey line over Sydney wreck site.
  • Recover SM-30 sonar towfish while vessel heads for Kormoran wreck site to run further high resolution investigation survey lines using the AMS-60 sonar system.
  • Vessel experiences engine problems reducing effective transit and survey speeds.
  • Memorial service held at Kormoran wreck location.
  • AMS-60 sonar towfish deployed, recommencing survey operations (AMS-60 sonar not functioning optimally).
  • AMS-60 towfish recovered to carry out repairs and redeployed on completion to recommence survey operations.
  • Run high resolution (600m swath) investigation survey line parallel to hull of Kormoran wreck.
  • Transit to Sydney wreck site.
  • Run high resolution (600m swath) investigation survey line parallel to hull of Sydney wreck. AMS-60 towfish recovered on completion.
  • Conduct memorial service at Sydney wreck location.
  • Commence transit to Geraldton for demobilisation of W&A sonar equipment and personnel, mobilisation of ROV, and vessel crew change.
  • Continue transit to Geraldton.
  • Arrive alongside Geraldton Port.
  • Commence demobilisation of W&A equipment and personnel.
  • Commence mobilisation of DOF ROV personnel.

ROV Inspection Phase
Date Event
  • Vessel alongside Geraldton Port.
  • Continue demobilisation of W&A equipment and personnel.
  • Commence systems testing of DOF ROV.
  • Carry out DOF vessel crew change.
  • Alongside Geraldton Port.
  • Complete demobilisation of W&A equipment and personnel.
  • Continue testing of DOF ROV system and ROV personnel.
  • Vessel fuel bunkering and victualling.
  • Alongside Geraldton Port continuing repairs and testing of the ROV system.
  • Alongside Geraldton Port completing repairs and wet-testing ROV.
  • Depart Geraldton Port and commence transit to Abrolhos Is. for ROV sea trials.
  • Arrive at the Abrolhos Islands.
  • Waiting on weather (Cyclone “Pancho” reduced to a tropical storm from a Category 4 on 29/03/08).
  • Fire drill and muster attended by all personnel.
  • Commence transit to Sydney wreck site in light of poor weather conditions for ROV sea trials.
  • Continue transit to Sydney wreck site.
  • Arrive at Sydney wreck site.
  • Attempt ROV sea trial dive to 500m but dive terminated due to equipment failure.
  • Recover ROV and carry out repairs and tests.
  • Vessel standing by waiting on weather.
  • Vessel standing by waiting on weather.
  • Vessel standing by waiting on weather.
  • Commence ROV inspection of Sydney wreck (ROV in garage as TMS unit inoperable).
  • Vessel standing by while video images are sent to shore for assessment of quality.
  • Recover ROV to carry out repairs to TMS unit.
  • Complete repairs to ROV TMS unit.
  • Carry out ROV inspection of Sydney wreck.
  • ROV recovered to deck on completion of dive.
  • ROV prepared for inspection dive within Sydney debris field NNW of wreck but dive postponed due to electrical fault while ROV on deck.
  • ROV electrical fault repaired.
  • ROV deployed and inspection of Sydney debris field commenced.
  • Continue and complete ROV inspection of Sydney debris field.
  • Recover ROV and transit to possible battle site.
  • ROV inspection of ‘battle site’ reveals sonar targets are rock outcrops.
  • Recover ROV and transit to Kormoran wreck site.
  • Commence ROV inspection of Kormoran wreck site (ROV in garage as manipulator arm is jammed in TMS).
  • ROV recovered and redeployed to recommence inspection.
  • Complete ROV inspection of Kormoran wreck site.
  • Recover ROV for return transit to Sydney wreck site.
  • Complete final inspection of debris field and wreck. All ROV inspection work complete.
  • Commence recovery of ROV.
  • Complete recovery of ROV and commence transit to Geraldton Port for demobilisation.
  • Arrive alongside Geraldton Port.
  • Commence demobilisation of ROV equipment and personnel.
  • Complete demobilisation of ROV equipment and personnel.

For more detailed information and times of events refer to the Daily Operations Reports provided in Appendix B3 and the Chief Officer’s Log Book and FSF, Online Surveyor, Sonar Party Chief and ROV Supervisor Logs provided in Appendices B6 to B9 of this report.