Shipwrecked Clean up on Padang Padang (4th REPORT)

Report to ISC, ....No 4.......Bali Island.............to Tipi ..........Padang Padang Ship Wreck and Reef Clean Up 20th July, 2008....Sunday...................Role Foundation

6am.............Checked the now secured wreck...............the ropes had held throughout the night with the decreasing swell.  All was good except for the sludge slowly being wasted out to sea from the wreck, the rocks and the reef. This was the residue that was impossible to clean off. Except for our reef and rock scrubbing plan, which we will do after we get rid of the wreck. With the incoming tide the scares on the reef became very clear. But they were south of the take off zone and would NOT change the lineup.
The fiber glass wreck was very resilient. Even with wave after wave hitting the wreck against  a massive rock in the middle, there were no holes along the high side. But the outside bottom of the hull was massively holed. Definitely NO chance of a salvage now.
The ropes, securing  the vessel would be surely tested the following day with the expected 2.8 meter swell that Monday.
9am.............Clean up phone  meeting..........N.Y. Ulu's Johnny took the initiative and planned a  cleanup of the outer side of the reef which was the take of zone of the lineup. This was an area that could only be cleaned up in calm conditions and at mid to high tide.
 He paddled out on a surf rescue board in his scuba wetsuit, with his snorkel and flippers. He did a reccy of the backside of the reef. He then asked the team of Chris Moore, Clemens Berger and Mike Mod to come out with the rubber ducky provided and skippered by Nyoman, and crewed by Made of the Padang2 Lifesavers, to come out and collect the crap.  Chris went over the side to join Johnny. We collected the crap as Johnny and Chris brought it up off the reef. Depending on the swell and swell direction, this was a vast area.
They brought up masses of fishing wire, nets and ropes, plus sharpe metal trays, fish hooks, gaffs, batteries and other dangerous gear.
The surfers that had surfed there since the ship had ran aground were extremely lucky not to have come unstuck on this crap. That metal fishing wire was extremely difficult to cut, even with wire cutters.
Now all dangerous wire and materials were cleared off the Padang Padang reef thanks to Johnny's initiatives. You da man, Johnny.

12.00 noon Clean Up Meeting...................... It was agreed that even without the help of the Role and Steve's Balinese staff, who needed a well deserved rest on Sunday with their families, we must take off any movable rubbish and objects before the swell hit again, the following day, Monday. We would meet again at 4.00pm with more rice bags and keep cleaning the wreck and surrounding areas. I would bring the ladder. The wreck was actually starting to look spick. Thou the smell disagreed with this story.
4pm clean up commences.............Tim Russo, N.Y. Ulu's Johnny, Chris Moore, Mike O'Leary, Brian Firth, Tim Hains and the volunteer Frenchy Nick was the team today. So there we were again on the wreck, the reef and rocks bagging more rubbish and stock piling it 5 meters from the vessel. Without the Balo staff, it got a bit dangerous below the vessel, with gear being tossed off everywhere.
 The lids were taken of the remaining bait freezers. What a lovely soup mix! Hopefully that bait crap would vanish with the big swell. God help us!
Come 5 pm we were through. Hopefully we had the lot. Except for the remaining bait compartments. We then carted it all the 100 meters to the staging area, behind the Padang2 back beach.
You may thing we are pissed off with the lack of physical help. We are not really concerned with this fact to date. Except for too many tourists getting in the way, there has not been any injuries so far to the cleanup crew, except for a few septic cuts. Practicality has ruled the day, and the job has and is being done. Safety is the top priority. No compo here mate.

Tomorrows plan............With help from Gus Foundation and Ollie at Lestari Group, we plan to get all the crap (Oil/Sludge and 6-7 cubic meters of rubbish) from the staging area behind the Padang2 back beach to the top of the cliff and carted away to the recyclers and/or a secure place.

Someone needs to break up the wreck or it could again become a major problem at anytime, if the ropes break as it is extremely buoyant. We are seeking the help of higher beings or was that beans? Still awaiting their message, maybe by courier pigeon. But we are not just hanging and waiting around. Proactive is the name of the game, no reactive.

Thanks again to all those mentioned above and thanks again for your support.

See you tomorrow........Mike O'Leary
(Also please donate if you can, you will always get value for money from us and so will the needy. That I guarantee. We have very positive and proactive programs).
Mike O'Leary
International CEO and Founder
R.O.L.E. Foundation Inc
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in creating a world without poverty
and reviving the health of the environment.

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Help us play a Role.…………..If you could please help us finance these programs; together we CAN restore the balance. You may donate to R.O.L.E. by direct deposit: Account Name - Yayayan Role, Bank Permata, Branch – Sanur, Bali, A/C No - 5801231804, Swift Code – BBBAIDJA; by cheque/check: To - Yayasan Role and post to Jl. Celagi Nunggul 101, Sawangan, Nusa Dua, Bali 80363, INDONESIA, or by Credit Card via our website at www.rolefoundation.org . Please feel free to contact us at info@rolefoundation.org. Also, you are most welcome to visit our Women’s Vocational Training Facility, our Marine Revival Program and our Eco-Learning Center, check out the programs and meet our team. Just drop in to the above address or give us a call on 62-361-807 8805.