Trouble in the Seychelles | God's World News

Trouble in the Seychelles

03/20/2019
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    Submersibles are sent to recover a critical piece of exploration equipment lost off the coast of the tiny island of Alphonse Seychelles on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. An accident severed the cable connecting the device to the mother-ship, sending it to the sea floor. AP Photo

It may be true that all’s well that ends well. But in the middle of the mess, that’s a difficult motto to remember. Scientists and technicians working on the Seychelles undersea exploration (See Charting the Indian Ocean) keep running into unexpected challenges that threaten, delay, or prevent the progress of their mission to map the sea floor of a previously unexplored area.

The mission has faced bad weather that forced a change of course. Fierce underwater currents have buffeted the submersibles, aborting dives. Last Wednesday, it was the near loss of an important camera-carrying underwater drone. The cables connected to the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) were somehow cut. The vital piece of equipment for the Nekton Mission sank to the sea bed. Two attempts to retrieve it failed. Scientific data collection came to a standstill while efforts were concentrated on recovering the drone.

The ROV pilot Jimmy Boesen says he spent two sleepless nights concerned about the device and its onboard cameras. Finally, on Thursday, it was secured and raised to the surface. It would be evaluated and put back into service as quickly as possible.

But the trials got more serious when the cockpit of a manned submersible began to fill with smoke while 820 feet beneath the Indian Ocean’s surface on Tuesday.

British scientist Molly Rivers and her American pilot Robert Carmichael smelled smoke inside their sub. Carmichael recognized the situation as a high-level emergency. He immediately abandoned the mission and began to ascend.  

“It’s the greatest fear: fire inside the cockpit. Your greatest fear. Where are you going to go?” Carmichael says. “Up” is the only answer.
A support team member said it took 23 minutes for the pair to reach the surface.

Technicians evaluated the submersible, which was used in Great Britain’s Sky TV’s “Deep Ocean Live” program for two years. The techs were unable immediately to find the source of the smoke. Mission director Oliver Steeds says he hopes the vessel will be back in the water today, however.

The scientists behind the Seychelles mission are working furiously at their task because they believe the world’s oceans are in danger. This area in the Indian Ocean is in close proximity to the world’s most populated nations: China and India. Human wellbeing and human contribution to pollution both factor in to the reason for the project.

Wanting to learn and wanting to produce positive change are noble goals. But even the best plans of mankind will falter and fail sometimes. God alone orchestrates the ultimate wellbeing of His creation, and He may choose to change our plans to show His own faithfulness.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. — Psalm 33:11

(Submersibles are sent to recover a critical piece of exploration equipment lost off the coast of the tiny island of Alphonse Seychelles on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. An accident severed the cable connecting the device to the mother-ship, sending it to the sea floor. AP Photo)