Commercial crab and lobster fisherman Clive Brown found what looked  
like a block of wood covered in goose barnacles floating off  
Guernsey's south coast today.  When he retrieved the bulky mass of  
goose barnacles he found they were covering a piece of communication  
equipment.  The number 5829-99-519-7782 written on the equipment  
brings one to the ISO Group website on Google.  http://5820.iso-group.com/NSNDetail/5820-99-519-7782/5820995197782.aspx

ISO Group supplies spare parts logistics for the defence industry.  I  
spoke with the US office and all I could learn was that the equipment  
had a UK code.  Clive removed about 40 lbs. of goose barnacles from  
the equipment.  He found also four Columbus or Gulf weed crabs, Planes  
minutus, which are a warm water species, in amongst the goose barnacles.

This image shows the equipment after most of the goose barnacles have  
been removed.  The communication equipment makes some noise when the  
Morse code switch is turned.  The panel of writing provides directions  
for "Emergency Operating Procedure 500 kHZ" and states that the aerial  
and earth line must be rigged.

Best wishes,

Richard

Richard Lord
sustainableguern...@gmail.com
fishi...@guernsey.net
Tel: 01481 700688

Channel Islands Environment email list: http://groups.google.com/group/cienviron
http://www.sealordphotography.net

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can  
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead
US anthropologist & populariser of anthropology (1901 - 1978)