I
am writing this letter as a follow-up to our telephone conversation regarding
the unfinished repairs to the older ships in port. A propeller was scheduled
to be replaced on Friday, April 21. Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions,
we were unable to stick to our schedule.
As you know, diving in the
Gulf Stream can be quite dangerous. Although the Gulf Stream surface current
is a warm current, it is also very strong and fast.
At the best of
times, currents can be a diver's worst enemy. A diver in excellent physical
condition might be able to swim at a rate of 30 meters per minute. However,
currents often flow at a rate of hundreds of meters per minute.
The
standard way that divers compensate for the current is to go against the surface
water flow. That is, they begin their dive by moving along the bottom in the
opposite direction from the way the water is flowing at the surface. Returning,
they move in the direction of the current and let the current help take them
back to their starting point.
However, when the current is very strong,
this method doesn't work. On this day, the current was strong enough
that I would have been putting my men in danger if I let them dive. And even
if they did return safely, the water would have been too rough for them to
complete the repairs.
I am sorry that the repairs were not completed
in time for the anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.
Dealing
with the public and non-military personnel is part of the job when you're
in the navy. "You could get a call about a bomb downtown and you'll have
to go and take charge of the whole scene -- the police, the media, everything,"
says Lieut. Andy Walsh. He adds that you need to have the confidence to stick
by your decisions.