Page 20 - Loss of the VOC Retourschip Batavia, Western Australia, 1629

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Figure 7. The Department of Maritime AIchaeology workboatHervietta.
Slafrmg
Perhaps one o f the most undemued aspects o f excava-
tion work is ensuring the well-being ofpersonnel. 1hiswas particularlyimportantontheBataviaexcavationdue10the remoteness o f the site, and the long periods o f field-work. I f staff are expected 10 work efficiently for up 10 150 days in the field, it is essential 10 ensure that good living and work facilities are provided, in convivial surroundings. The size of the team usually numbered about seven, comprised mainly of staff from the Department of Mari- time Archaeology, withoneortwovolunteers. This was an ideal number, both from the point of view of carrying out the excavation work and the ability of the group to function as a !earn. During diving operations, 3 4 persons worked on the site, with 1-2 tending on the workboat, and one per- son looking afterthe camp. Since the nature of the excava- tion work on this site was periodic, with a few days intensive diving followed by a period o f non·diving due to bad weather, there was not the usual cumulative exhaustion often associated with long diving periods. During the bad weather periods, it was possible 10 work on the material that had been raised, photographing, cataloguing and re- cording, and there was time also to maintain equipment and 10 relax.
During the period from August 10February, the Abrol- hosareuninhabited,andduringthesetimes,freshfruitand vegetables were flown out by sea·plane once a fortnight, together with mail and newspapers. The aircraft also served to change-over staff, and was available for emer- gencies. The period from February to August is the Abrol- has crayfishing season, at which time several hundred fishermen, with their families,live in huts on the islands. A supply boat visited Beacon Island every two days during this period, bringing provisions for our !earn and the four families there who were involved in fishing. A freezer was used 10 slOre meat, bread and milk, and a well-balanced diet was ensured at all times.
Boats
The main excavation work. was carried out from Hen·
rielta, a steel workboat, 11 m long, 4.5 m beam and 1.2 m draughtThisvesselwasspeciallydesigned10thespecifi· cations of the Department of Maritime Archaeology for this type o f work. The vessel had a lOp speed o f about 16 kni/hprovidedbytwiotur1Jo..chargeddiesel engines. Twin engines werechosen for manoeuvrability and safety. Should one engine breakdown, there was always the possibility of steaming to pan without assistance. The dropping transom provided access onto a flat, reinforced stem deck 7 m long . Ahydraulic'A'frameenabledloads10beswungin·boan! onto the deck. Lifting was provided by a 410nne hydraulic winch, operated from the wheel-house and housed below in the engine room. The wheel-house was open to the stem, with a hatch leading to the fore-peak which had sleeping accommodation for four people, a small galley, refrigera- torandtheship'sradio.Ahatchintheroofofthefore·peak provided a through draft
Two hookah units were mounted on the bow, feeding low pressure (8 kPa) air to the air-supply lines. Forconven- ience, these lines were wound on reels mounted on the roof ofthecabin. Thehookahsconsistedofasmall2kw (2.7 hp) petrol engine driving on the low-pressure air compressor. This system provided air at a rate o f 250 Vmin. A s diving onthesitetookplaceindepthsoflessthan6m,thissystem was preferable 10 scuba. At times, 27 diver-hours were achieved in a single day. The great advantage of the hookah system was that air was available from a simple, cheap unit, and was adequate to supply three divers work- ing hard. The air was purified with a 50 I1f1lter, oil-trap and activated charcoal filter. The hoses, which were attached to the diver's weight belt, acted as a safety line and reserve air·supply. Should the hookah urtit fail, there was enough air in the hoses to give the divers at least 3 minuleS air- supply.
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