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Since the 1992 cable failure, we have videotaped our submarine cables on a regular basis. The Sumitomo cable also crosses in the same area as the cable which failed in 1992 and suffers from the same problems although at a much slower pace. Since last spring, experts from the Sumitomo factory in Japan, Pirelli Jacobson, and B.C. Hydro have reviewed our videotapes and agree with our assessment that the cable would fail shortly if preventative measures were not taken. Over the summer we negotiated a contract with Pirelli Jacobson, of Seattle, to assist us in the repair of this cable. The cable laying barge arrived last weekend and has been doing some work for the telephone company prior to repairing our cable. While the repair process sounds simple, it is one of the most complex projects we have undertaken since I have been manager. In summary, we will cut the Sumitomo cable on the shore on San Juan Island, reel the cable up on the cable laying barge out to the area where the damage has occurred where approximately 200 feet of damaged cable will be cut out and a splice will be inserted. After splicing, the cable will be relaid (on a new route that will bypass the area that has caused the current problems) back to San Juan Island and spliced again on the shore. Altogether, we expect it to take approximately two days to cut the cable and recover it to the damaged area. We will then spend five or six days cutting the damaged area out of the cable, splicing it and carefully lowering the splice back into the water. We will then spend two days relaying the cable to shore and another five days completing the splice on shore. San Juan Island will be served from the Furukawa submarine cable that was installed in 1993 during this period, and we don't expect any disruption of power. The most difficult part of the repair will be maintaining a precise position over the cable for five days while the cable is cut, spliced, and relaid. To do this, we will be using anchors and tug boats to help us maintain our position. If you have a boat and want to come out and take a look, please try to keep a distance from the cable laying ships. Remember, we will have anchor cables that extend thousands of feet out from the barge. We will also have divers in the water for part of the time. Any help that you can give us in staying clear will be greatly appreciated. We have made arrangements to videotape important parts of this process and we will have a video ready to show to you during October. Let's cross our fingers and hope for good weather and that everything goes smoothly.
Doug Bechtel
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