ROFFS™ - schaudt.us OCEANOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
FOR THE HAWAII HAND OVER LOCATION
USING IMAGERY AND DATA FROM THE PAST 24 HOURS      

We are able to provide this analysis using a combination of high resolution infrared satellite imagery, altimeter data, ocean currents model data, and weather forecasts for the Hawaii and Islands areas. The suggested ROFFS™- schaudt.us route is shown in red. The 12nm zone in light blue, and the initial and suggested hand over locations in purple.

The last reported location of the rig was near 151°16’W & 22°36’N. As the rig continues the tow around the northern coastline of Oahu, and through the Kauai Channel to avoid the 12nm zone, the ocean conditions suggest the location of the hand over zone should occur near 157°45’W & 20°25’N at least 60nm offshore of the Hawaiian Islands along the northwest edge of a counter clockwise rotating eddy (centered near 157°00’W & 19°40’N). The location of the hand over zone allows for a southward drift of the rig within the drift zone (shown with a green box) due to the rotational effects of the eddy. We believe that for the duration of the drift, the rig should continue to remain within the drift zone and offshore of the 60nm limit proposed by original plans. Additional help preventing the rig from turning inshore towards Hawaii will be the 15-20 knot winds out of the east forecast for the next 24-72 hours.

After the hand over is complete, the tow would then be able to commence westward using the southwestern western currents provided by another clockwise rotating eddy centered near 158°45’W & 19°15’N.