Disclaimer: Don't tell Robin's mom about this story. (See blow-by-blow pictures of this account, except for the injury part where we were busy tending to the situation.)
The park's one regular phone line is a Radio Telephone Interconnect (RTI) system. This setup uses a radio tower and repeater to relay voice data that eventually ends up at the phone company in Key West, providing us rudimentary phone service. The system uses a solar battery array. These batteries are housed on a 60-ft Airforce tower constructed in the middle of open water 35 miles from nowhere. Periodically, these batteries need servicing. The Last Man is the lucky guy who gets to do this.
When I heard the plan for how the batteries get serviced, I pitched a fit. Not just one fit, either. I pitched 3 fits to 3 different people.
Robin and I questioned the safety of this operation. I pleaded with the boss to give us a week to get a better way lined up (like asking the Coast Guard to help or towing the small boat out with a larger boat for a base of operations). I made phone calls. All to no avail. This is my last pitch here and I'm sure someone will get in trouble for it.
The plan was to cross 35 miles of open water each way, hope the wind didn't kick up and leap from the small, bumperless boat to a metal-grated platform. Once you reach the platform, you have to tie off the boat and get all the tools, a ladder and battery water up the tower using ropes and pulleys.
Because of high seas, 3-5 ft waves and big, big swells, reaching the tower took 3 1/2 hours instead of the usual 1 1/2 hours. Once we finally reached the tower, the swells and surges at the base of the tower were 6+ feet. It's a good thing Robin is such an experienced captain who was able to be spot-on 4 solid times for the transfers. Anyone with lesser experience would have resulted in a very bad situation.
As it was, the situation was bad enough. Making the leap from the boat to the tower was gonna be tough. There is very little margin for error. Plus, there are posts waiting to impale you, rust, salt water spray and bird poop everywhere to complicate sticking the landing.
Unfortunately, one of the guys did fall. Fortunately, he did not fall into the water and get crushed between the tower base, surging water and lurching boat. He is injured and is now in Key West seeking medical attention (probably just a broken wrist).
Of course, the Park could avoid this fiasco entirely if they would simply work with the Coast Guard. Or work with anyone else who has the right equipment and training for such an operation. Or do away with this archaic system and simply spend a little money to have a second emergency satellite phone.
I am at a loss regarding who I should speak with next to avoid this dangerous situation.
Suggestions, anyone?
4 comments:
Go to the top - Secretary of the Interior. This is ludicrous to endanger lives for a set of batteries. A simple satellite relay system would render this completely unneccessary. Send me all this information and I'll do all the inquiries so no one 'gets in trouble'.
PAH!!!!!
Geez, OSHA would at least say that Robin needs to wear safety glasses during that whole procedure.
Geez, OSHA would at least say that Robin needs to wear safety glasses during that whole procedure.
No doubt! OSHA would have a field day here, that is for sure.
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