My name is Frank.
I'm 43 years old.
I'm working as Master on board a suctionhopperdredger.
Projects we helped creating: Chek Lap Kok airport and Penny Bay Disney World ,both in Hong Kong; Palm Island 1 and Palm Deira in Dubai.
My nautical studies I followed on the Island of Terschelling, which was meant to become my new home. The isle is located off the northcoast of the Netherlands, as third in a row of five, known by sailors as "the Frisian Islands".
During my study I joined the local divingteam "Ecuador" (named after a "local famous" shipwreck). The team has got an 18mtr diving vessel "Urus II" with liftingcapacities of around 15 tons. Further equipment: hydraulic spreaders & cutters, airlifts, blower, etc.
This all is there for exploring shipwreck, of which we have hundreds in our vicinity.
Research and recovery of artefacts, recovery of trawlingnets dragged into shipwrecks, clearing fouled propellors, assisting govermental archeologists, etc, etc.
The "Ursus II", build as fishingship in 1936, later used by a salvage company, is only making a few knots. This makes the duration of a dive trip a day-filling hobby.
Many teammembers are professional sailors, at least all are beachcombers !
During the return trip a few cold beers and sometimes fresh backed fish will kill the time and ingrease the joy.
For many centuries shipping passes our island.
The oldest shipwrecks are dated 15th century.
First and second world war added plenty other shipwreck: submarines, MTB's, destroyers, escort-vessels and of course freighters.
After both wars, plenty ship went down when they were set into minefields.
In our modern time ships still go down: collisions, shifting of cargo, etc.
Containers drop overboard when ships have to alter course at "Vlieland Junction"TSS and there is a heavy NW-ly gale.(positive aspect: they will drift towards the island !)
To make it possible to do some more diving whithout spending a whole day, I purchased a 2nd hand Rigid Inflatable Boat.
In the south of Spain, near Cadiz I found a 8.5mtr boat with diesel and heckdrive, used by a watersport centre for dive classes.
At "Scuba Steve's" I purchased Raymarine Chartplotter-Radar combo, KVH compass, HB 1197C SI, various HID & LED lightning.
End october I hope to have finished all changes.
The HB 1197 can use an "old" 262/455kHz transducer , the"standard"455/800kHz transducer and a towfish with "old" 262/455kHz for rough seastate.
In my plotter I put a 500 known "wreck" locations which I would to investigate with the HB. So plenty time to spend on the water !
I will try to attach some pictures.
In my profile You can see some more pictures.
I would like to thank all HB users who send there messages to this and other Side Image sites. There is a enormous amount of info available, which helps us into the right way to get the maximum out of the HB.
Robert, this is an excellent Site !
Regards,
Frank Wuis
Terschelling, the Netherlands
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