Inspection of Janah Island Mooring Buoys

Inspection ofJanah Island Mooring Buoys by Center for Environment & Water King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals Dhahran, Saudi Arabia August 2009

Inspection ofJanah Island Mooring Buoys • A team of divers from KFUPM-Center for Environment and Water went to Janah Island on July 27th 2009 to monitor and verify the status of the mooring buoys installed in May 2008. The new boat (UPM 15) was used by the team for this purpose. The map showing locations (latitude/ longitude) of moored buoys are encoded in GPS that served as guide for the team. • Divers dived at two locations at J16-Sabr (deepest installation) with the U-shape type and J14N-T (shallow) with the T-shape type of anchorage. The floats attached to these two moorings were found missing. Underwater inspection showed that the ropes are still intact and attached to the main support system. Those anchorage (U and T shape type) were still intact and strong. The rope is cut from the surface for unknown reasons by unknown individuals.

The mooring location at J16-Sabr. The U-Type of mooring system that was installed at J16-Sabr. Group of divers identified this area as Sabri Reef. The rope is clearly visible attached to the main system with small floaters that allowed the rope to stand at certain height.

Still at J16-Sabr This is the rope attached to the main system. It laid down because the float on the surface was already detached.

Still at J16-Sabr This is the rope that connects to the float at the surface. A clear indication that this rope was cut in order to detach the buoy. The person who did this made a simple loop at the end to prevent the rope from breakup.

The U-Type Mooring System at J16-Sabr The U-Type system of mooring is in good shape and strong enough to hold the boat during anchorage.

Still at J16-Sabr Divers collected and arranged the rope in J16-Sabr and tied it to the stainless steel U-Type moooring system to prevent from destroying the corals.

At J3 The float at J3.

Onboard, the scientist from CEW uses a long stick to catch the loop of the mooring buoy to see the status and for possible cleaning.

At J3 Divers inspected the float and removed the barnacles, algae and other fouling organisms attached to it.

At J4 Marine bird also uses it as a resting place and as a vantage point for its food hunting activities.

At J5 The float at J5. Thick growth of green algae, barnacles and other fouling organisms are visible.

At J10 Still good for mooring of boat, durable and strong with proper maintenance.

At MRay5 Two floats are visible. Only one float was attached to the mooring system. However, the second buoy was taken from other location by unknown individual and tied it to this mooring to serve their purpose.

The float Marker at JF1 Barnacle growth is visible. The warning message is still readable.

The Float Marker at J1 Marine bird rest on the float while looking for prey organisms

Float at MRay1 Buoy is still in good shape. Needs cleaning and removal of barnacles, algae and other fouling organisms

Float at MRay2 Float is still in good condition. Needs cleaning and removal of barnacles and other organisms.

The J-Aramco Mooring System This is the first mooring system established by Aramco in Janah Island.

Float at MRay4 The float is still in good condition. Marine bird has a nice rest on top of the float.

Float at J15N-T Float is in good condition that needs maintenance and cleaning of fouling organisms.

Diver searching the main mooring system at J14N-T Float at J14N-T is missing. Divers conducted underwater search and found the T-Type of mooring system still in good shape.

The T-Type Mooring System at J14N-T The shackle and the rope are still in good condition after 1-year.

Diver shows the rope-end which was attached to the buoy at the surface. This is the end of the rope which was attached to the buoy at the surface. It was cut using a sharp blade at the for removing the float

At J14N-T This is the end of the rope attached to the float of the mooring system at J14N-T. Cut end of the rope is visible.

The KFUPM-CEW Staff The members of the team that conducted the monitoring and underwater inspection of mooring buoys in Jana Island. Mr. Nasser Cali (left), Mr. Asraf Mohammad (center), Mr. Anwar (Boat Captain).

The Members of the Team Mr. Asraf Mohammad (left), Mr. Abdulsali Saji (Center), and Mr. Anwar (Boat Captain).

The Stern Part of the Boat The boat has two outboard engines (200 HP each).

Table 1. Status of the Janah Island Mooring Buoys as on July 26, 2009

Around Janah Island, ten (10) mooring buoys and two (2) marker buoys were observed (see Table 1). J-Aramco is not included in the count. The mooring buoys are still intact and in good condition.Few mooring buoys were found missing (Table 1). These buoys were removed by cutting the rope from the surface by using some sharp instrument (see pictures of J16-Sabri Reef and J14N-T) for unknown reason. Inspected the mooring systems & ropes of the buoys and cleaned the fouling organisms. Summary of the findings

Inspection of Janah Island Mooring Buoys