If youve been following along with our attempt at the Sewol Ferry recovery know that we have returned home safely. If you are interested in the details here you go... GAVI authorized press release - July 15th, 2014Approximately two months ago, Gallant Aquatic Ventures International (GAVI) was asked to assist in finding victims of the Sewol ferry wreck in South Korea. The commercial diver operations has injured (from Decompression Illness) more than 70 divers over 80 days of diving and killed at least two divers using a surface supplied breathing apparatus. GAVI’s Director, Joseph Dituri, along with his team of progressive diving professionals, proposed an alternate method of diving which may have obtained better results. Team GAVI agreed to conduct dive operations using advanced dive equipment (rebreathers), but was not given a safe opportunity to dive. South Korean government representatives reported Team GAVI chose to withdraw from diving on the ferry through local media, which was inaccurate. The purpose of this release is to share Team GAVIs information on the actual course of events.Mr. Kwang Hwi Kim initially contacted GAVI to see if the company could assist in the unfortunate Sewol ferry disaster in South Korea. GAVI’s Director acknowledged and sent a list of logistics required for the team to help on-scene. Upon arrival in Korea the team requested a logistics status update. The government representative (retired Captain Kwang Hyun Cho) told the team, The Government will provide, and all equipment is on the barge. Part of the team attended a town hall meeting in Jindo (on Jin Island - nearest point of entry to disaster). Victims families, politicians, and civilian and military divers were present. In this town hall meeting current salvage teams were visibly upset and yelling at the people who brought Team GAVI to South Korea. The GAVI team explained their different methodology to the panel and the maritime police in charge of the dive site told them that they may provisionally make a few dives to check potential success given all the doubt raised by the competitors. GAVI was also told they would have a fair evaluation by the military, coast guard, and maritime police. At this meeting the GAVI Director voiced his concern over the evaluation being done by competitors or those who were aggressive at the town hall. GAVI was reassured that no competitors would be on site.The team returned to Inchon (same day) and performed a salvage inspection of the sister ship of the Sewol ferry but it had little resemblance to the ships drawings that were provided. GAVI asked for several pieces of information such as hydrographic data for Sewol site. This information was never provided thus hampering the critical step of planning the dives.Mr. Kwang Hwi Kim reported to GAVI that the logistics list was split between him and the government and that he provided all of his requirements. The team was then transported to a remote Jindo pension (Korean vacation home) at the direction of Captain Cho. This pension was geographically isolated from the victims site and news media as well as the town. This location choice further hampered the delivery of logistical supplies. Team GAVI was in-country for five days and were only provided 14 of the 34 items on the logistics list. Many simple logistical items were poorly provided or delayed. For instance the GAVI Director asked for breathing oxygen for the team’s diving equipment. The government delivered welding oxygen which was only 94 percent pure as confirmed by oxygen analyzer (100% is required). This oxygen would have jeopardized the lives of the GAVI divers. Much time was wasted returning and re-delivering items. The team was forced to fix broken logistics such as an old and very small compressor when they specifically requested a compressor six times the size. It was apparent that the logistical supplies were not forthcoming so GAVI’s Director wrote a letter to Minister Lee (minister in charge of the disaster). GAVI’s Director asked Captain Cho to acknowledge receipt and deliver the letter. Captain Cho acknowledged receiving it through a third party but did not confirm its delivery. Mr. Kwang Hwi Kim reported that he went to Seoul and returned with the balance of the logistics (30 of 34 items - most of them) which were not provided by the government. Team GAVI had been in Korea for nine days at this point. A dive date was selected (11 July 2014) without team GAVI’s input or discussion and without having all the logistics. This date was directed by Captain Cho. GAVI objected because they did not have all the logistics. Captain Cho reiterated, They are coming. Team GAVI loaded their gear and the other logistics on the ship on the 10th of July without all of the logistical requirements to assist in the recovery.The initial financial agreement included split disbursement: part to be delivered as soon as the team landed in Seoul because of the short notice to fly and the other portion was to be paid upon completion of the dives. The initial payment was not delivered upon arrival as agreed. GAVI protested lack of payment daily (from the beginning) saying the company cannot dive for free and needed fees paid. Additionally all the broken promises to date led our team to be skeptical as to the desire or ability to pay us after the job was complete. A portion of the pay was wired to us on the day of the dive. Additionally, a portion of the final payment remains outstanding.Once the team was on station they checked the water current and position of the wreck. Then the team held its dive brief, which was not intended to educate the government recovery officials, but rather communicate the dive plan. The officials turned the 5-10 minute brief into an hour and a half Q&A which forced the team to miss their dive window. This was at approximately 1 PM and the next sufficient tide was at 2 AM. The team decided that starting a dive of this magnitude at night was not prudent.Team GAVI addressed its safety concerns using myriad problem-solving techniques. GAVI’s Director suggested to dive at the next proper tide but Korean Navy Captain Jae Byeong Ryul demanded that they move out. He proceeded to move the Pal Pal (competitor’s) barge and dive team over the wreck site. Team GAVI proposed other compromises like placing Pal Pal’s barge slightly off the top of the site (~100 meters away) so Team GAVI could safely execute their dives. Our Team also offered to allow families and military or government officials on the barge to evaluate. All compromises were denied by the South Korean government officials on site.The GAVI team returned to Seoul and met with Senator Jea Yun Kim, who was sympathetic to GAVI’s plight. GAVI also met with representatives for the Peoples committee for the Sewol Ferry Tragedy and some media on several separate occasions.Due to poor communication and lack of assistance, support and cooperation at the local site, Team GAVI was unable to conduct dive operations safely. Government officials modified the original agreement made at the town hall meeting, failed to deliver the required logistics in a timely fashion, and did not communicate effectively. The GAVI team flew half way around the world with over $100,000 in gear to dive and recover the victims with the intention of bringing solace to their families.The GAVI team extends their most sincere condolences to all those who have been adversely affected by the Sewol ferry tragedy.Released by Joseph Dituri, Director - GAVI Since our departure several of the key figures in opposition to our diving endeavors have been arrested and the Ship Salvage Unit and Coast Guard have been removed from the Sewol site. The commercial operation, now under the command of Captain Cho, has had their 74th case of DCS and they recovered the body of the cook in an area divers had claimed to already have searched. There is a possibility GAVI will return to the Sewol depending on the results obtained over the next 30 days. Standing by.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 04:39:29 +0000
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