Figure 11. Diver Checking Payout of Lift Line During Rehearsal. 



CRAWFORD arrived on scene early morning of 16 August. ALUMINAUT arrived that 

 evening at 1900 and preparations for her first dive began immediately. However, the com- 

 bined hazards of darkness and rising seas brought rigging of ALUMINAUT to a halt at 2300. 



On the mornin" of 17 August, the salvage team resumed the difficult task of transferring 

 the reel carrying the lift line from STAGEY TIDE's deck and inserting it in brackets on ALU- 

 MINAUT's bow (figure 12). Rough seas with 5- to 7-foot swells and 20-knot winds hampered 

 operations. The lift line reel, a backup reel, and ALUMINAUT's reel support bracket were 

 badly damaged. The decision was made at noon to use the alternative plan for lowering the 

 line (Appendix G). 



Work to transfer the line and equipment from STAGEY TIDE to MIZAR, assemble a 

 backup clump, and rig MIZAR continued throughout the night and into the morning of 18 

 August. Because of worsening weather and anticipated effects of Hurricane Gamille, an a- 

 round-the-clock effort for rigging and diving preparations was mounted. The lift line clump 

 consisted of a syntactic foam block (120-pound buoyancy), an AMF transponder, a Straza 

 beacon, a Benthos flashing light, 500 feet of the lower end of the lift line made up into twen- 

 ty five, 20-foot bights lightly sewn together, an aluminum toggle bar, and a special stern hook 



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