While the TE SubCom Dependable continues moving westward, installing the northern cable that will eventually reach some 300 miles out to the Axial Volcano site on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, divers are working nearshore with a jet pump to bury the northern segment close to the end of the 5,000 foot conduit. This work by hand will cease when the cable ship returns and the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is used to bury the cable from the plow-down position to the end of diver burial. The goal of this work is to ensure that there are no gaps in burial so that the cable is protected. As the ROV works on the northern segment, the divers will switch to jet pump burial on the shore end of the southern segment.
–Nancy Penrose, OOI Communications Coordinator, University of Washington, in Pacific City, Oregon, with thanks to the TE SubCom land team for input.