Speyside CREWSannual maintenance

The Speyside CREWS was given an annual maintenance check over the period 10-13 Nov 2014. The buoy was brought to shore and all instruments were functioning and we had no problem connecting via RF but there was no cellular connection.  All data for the last year was downloaded from both loggers and is now in the hands of TT IMA.  The programs were re-loaded and the electronics were reset.  Cellular communications was restored immediately afterward.  The RMY temp/RH is in need of service/calibration  but all other MET sensors seem to be measuring accurately.  The Temp/RH was removed for service and sonde recalibrated  prior to re-deployment on the 11 Nov 2014.

On the previous basic servicing (September 2014), the sonde was not functional due to erupted batteries in the battery well.  These were replaced.  The Temp/Cond was also found to be faulty, which was eventually returned to and replaced by YSI.

The breakage of the wiper parking garage has been noted as a regular problem with the CREWS inhibiting the proper settling of the wipers, and may be something the design team should look at.

April 2014 scheduled maintenance

The Angel Reef CREWS given a basic maintenance service on 21st April 2014. No obvious physical damage was noted. Fouling was minimal and consisted of 3 barnacle spat.  The wiper "garage" was replaced, and the coper coating on the CT probe.  The failure of the Turbidity probe to pass the QC test remains unresolved (the same issue exist for BUTO1), even though it all seems right during the cal.  Recommended action is a firmware upgrade.

Possible error with barometric readings. Pressure ranges from 1013-1015 millibar throughout the day. A 1millibar change suggest a 10m displacement.

Angel Reef (ARTO1) Scheduled CREWS Maintenance

The Angel Reef CREWS (ARTO1) was serviced on 20/03/2014 after several months of basic maintenance. In January 2014 anomalous temperature and conductivity reading were detected and it was scheduled for maintenance in March 2014.

Pre-cal CTD

Depth: 1.11m     
Temperature: 26.98
Conductivity: 55352
Salinity: 35.14

Little fouling was noted at this site.  Mooring lines, the buoy and the hardware attached to the buoy remained intact and with no noticeable damage.  Mooring lines and the buoy  were fouled with few gooseneck barnacles, sessile barnacles and tufts of green filamentous algae.  The anchors remained intact with no cracks or weaknesses noticed.  The western most subsurface buoy has shifted up to the surface of the water, and will be adjust on next visit.

Little fouling was noted on the EXO2 and on the protective casing. Most of the copper coating surrounding the probes remained intact, but given the lenth of time since the last service they were changed.  The probes were thoroughly cleaned of all barnacles, algae and other encrustations. All debris removed from the threading and krytox gel reapplied to all ports prior to reconnection to the base unit.  On recalibration it was noted that the conductivity/temperature probe was faulty (during calibration it registered temperature of 1.xx e-9 and conductivity readings of 96500 in the conductivity standard) and has been replaced with a new probe.  The faulty probe has been sent to YSI from examination. The new probe passed calibration process.  A QC result was generated during the TSS calibration process for reasons undetermined.  This also occurred during the first installation of the CREWS.

Exterior of base of sonde on removal from CREWS

Exterior of top of sonde on removal from CREWS

Inside of protective cover of sonde on removal from CREWS

Some colonisation on sonde and state of sacrificial anode

Still intact copper coating

Some colonisers on cleaning brush and probes

barnacle growing on cleaning brush

Minor tear on copper coating