2 minute read
Sinai
NZDF SPARKIES REVAMP SINAI FACILITIES
Five NZDF electricians are making sure everything is ship shape in the Sinai buildings where their colleagues live and work.
The surge team which has deployed for three months to the Multinational Force and Observers mission consists of electricians SGT James Caird, 3 WKSP Coy (also electrical inspector qualified), CPO Chevy Rangitakatu, RNZN, CPL Ryan Douglas, 2 WKSP Coy, SPR Matt Thoms, 25ESS and SPR Ngakita Beazley-Ruwhiu, 25ESS.
In November 2019 SGT Caird along with another inspector deployed to South Camp, Sinai for a month to audit the camp’s electrical situation.
They submitted a report to MFO Headquarters in Rome outlining the faults and potential hazards that were prevalent in some of the buildings around the camp. The MFO asked the NZDF to repair the electrical faults on critical infrastructure and fix identified hazards.
CPL Douglas said getting to the Sinai during the Covid pandemic was no easy feat. “We finally deployed from New Zealand and isolated ourselves for two weeks prior to arriving in South Camp. We had a three day hand over and then the reigns were ours. “The first few days were spent finding our feet and getting our bearings, as well as meeting key engineer personnel who we are working with. We concentrated on what needed to be done in the camp gym first. Covid restrictions meant the gym was closed and was a perfect time for us to isolate the power and rectify the faults. Faults such as switchboards that could not isolate power supplies, broken wall sockets and exposed cables were some of the hazards rectified on that job.”
The team has also been able to get some of the more complex tasks underway. Switchboards in some of the accommodation blocks have now been completely removed and replaced with new boards that have additional protection. They were initially found to have no RCD protection (an RCD is a device that quickly switches off the electrical circuit due to an imbalance that is detected because of a fault that has occurred. This will prevent any serious harm or death by electric shock or prevent serious damage to equipment).
In the coming weeks the dining facility will be upgraded, and the mechanic workshop facilities will be upgraded and partially rewired.
“This deployment so far has definitely been like no other due to the current pandemic,” said CPL Douglas. “Remaining flexible and adaptive have become key and will remain so throughout our time here. The variety of work and the environment is a great experience for all five of us which has seen us use our trade skills effectively.”
The team.
“The variety of work and the environment is a great experience for all five of us which has seen us use our trade skills effectively.”
– Corporal Ryan Douglas
