Rogue buoy on course for Chile

A buoy measuring waves in the tumultuous Southern Ocean has broken free and is heading to Chile.

The Southern Ocean Buoy, pivotal in a collaborative research project between the Defence Technology Agency and MetOcean Solutions measuring subantarctic wave conditions, has snapped its moorings and is drifting east across the Pacific.

It could take more than a year before it arrives at its unscheduled South American destination.

Up until last month the scientific buoy was stationed south of Campbell Island, which sits about 700km south of Invercargill, relaying wave data through a satellite link for the last six months.

But on July 28 the buoy suddenly started drifting east with the ocean currents.

MetOcean’s managing director Dr Peter McComb said it was likely a section of the mooring failed under the extreme wave conditions.

McComb said the maximum wave heights had exceeded 10m for more than a quarter of the time with the mooring facing constant stresses and ferocious storms.

“Ultimately, we are very pleased to have succeeded in our goal of making almost six months of very detailed spectral measurements at this location in the subantarctic.”

He said the fact that the buoy continued to relay data meant an unexpected spinoff for researchers.

The data already collected will be used for a number of civilian and military applications including helping the New Zealand Defence Force design its next class of patrol ships suited to the Southern Ocean climate.

A second buoy will be moored off Campbell Island next February.