Spare hydrographic and conducting cable are stowed in the hold. Spare trawl wire is stowed in the unused centerwell. All oceanographic cables aboard WHOI vessels are lubricated during manufacture with Grignard Chemical Co. Cables are periodically rinsed and lubricated with the same product during service. It is imperative that oceanographic cables be used in a responsible manner which does not compromise their availability to subsequent investigators.
Cables are expensive and at times in short supply.
Reasonable care must be taken to maintain their integrity and extend their useful life. Questions related to the use of cables should be directed to the Marine Operations Coordinator during cruise planning. Cables are not to be loaded in excess of their safe working load. Caution must be exercised in lowering instruments which are heavy, entrap large volumes of water, or produce excessive hydrodynamic drag forces. This is particularly true when operating in moderate sea states or water depths greater than 4,000 meters.