Previous   |   Next

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the people and institutions that helped us to convert an ambitious and challenging project into a very successful expedition that was the first Ocean Drilling Program (ODP)/​Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) program to be conducted in a shallow-water environment.

This project was born in 1998 when the concept of mission-specific platforms for future IODP expeditions was in the early phase of discussion. We want to especially thank John Ludden and Catherine Mével for their encouragement and support at this stage and during the entire scientific planning of the expedition.

The group of proponents of Proposal 519 must be acknowledged for its major contribution in developing the proposed science. Philippe Pézard was involved in the early phase of the proposal and defined an ambitious logging plan. The project has received constant support from the ODP and IODP scientific advisory structure throughout the successive review cycles. We appreciated the constructive exchanges with the various panels and their understanding as the objectives and the operational requirements of our proposal were different from those of the proposals that they usually deal with.

During the planning phase, we have benefited from the unfailing support from various institutions and colleagues who helped us, directly or indirectly. By organizing an International Workshop on Submerged Coral Drilling in September 2000, Terry Quinn and Sandy Tudhope have created the opportunity to provide new insights on the drilling requirements to achieve our objectives. The site survey cruise was supported by the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). During this cruise, Gilles Lericolais (IFREMER) was able to provide seismic data, although the imaging of recent reefs is a very challenging task. The authorities of French Polynesia have been very supportive; we would like to thank especially Priscille Tea Frogier.

Once Expedition 310 was placed on the drilling schedule, the ECORD Science Operator (ESO) worked tirelessly to make this program happen under the best conditions and to ensure the success of this expedition. There are many to thank in ESO, including their subcontractors, for their role during the planning of the expedition, the offshore phase, and the Science Party: Dan Evans, Colin Brett, Ursula Röhl, Tim Brewer, Jenny Inwood, Holger Kuhlmann, Alex Wuelbers, Hendrik Braaksma, Florence Einaudi, Gilles Henry, Hans Wallrabe-Adams, Davie Baxter, Dave Smith, and Eileen Gillespie. We want to acknowledge especially Dave McInroy, Alister Skinner, and Christian Wilson for their dedication during the offshore phase; it has been a great pleasure to work with them, and our close collaboration was a key of the success of the expedition.

The talented drillers from Seacore Ltd. have done an incredible job by delivering exceptional cores, always with humor and grace. We cannot end without mentioning the crew of the DP Hunter and Captain William Roger, who made our life pleasant during the expedition.

This expedition will become a milestone in scientific drilling and will stand as an unforgettable human adventure.

Top of page   |   Previous   |   Next