MR. JEFF HART AND MR. MATT STAFFEL
AMBASSADORS
MR. CHARLES BOLDEN, ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
DIRECTORS OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY
GEOTEC EXECUTIVES AND SPECIAL GUESTS
DEAR FRIENDS
PLAN "B"
No "Plan B" has ever been as successful as the one that brings us together on this special occasion.
A little over a year ago, we received the terrible news of a mining accident that threatened the lives and physical integrity of 32 fellow nationals and a Bolivian citizen.
After 17 days of distress, uncertainty, nervousness, hard work and efforts, we learned that the 33 miners were alive but trapped 700 meters underground, with no escape route and with thousands of tons of rock and dirt between them and the surface.
While it is true that we all rejoiced in the good news, we immediately began to worry, since the only acceptable solution was to rescue them alive. However, we were also profoundly aware of the almost insuperable difficulties facing us, given that such a massive rescue at that depth had never been attempted before.
However, President Piñera pledged to do "everything humanly possible" to bring them back safely.
And we did it, with everyone's help, both Chilean and international. Hundreds of people and dozens of companies and institutions participated in the rescue operation, several of whom are here with us today. This really was a collective effort, one of those deeds that not only saves lives, but also adds to the humankind`s accumulated knowledge.
As a result of that joint effort, and with equipment and professionals from many diverse fields, mining, oil extraction and space exploration, we were able to initiate the rescue operation safely and with confidence of its ultimate success.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to Administrator Charles Bolden, in representation of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), for its significant contribution in matters of safety and survival in extreme conditions, whose expertise was crucial for the success of the mission. NASA`s advice was extremely useful to safeguard the miners' physical and mental health in such difficult conditions.
Our appreciation also goes to all the institutions and people who supported us during that difficult time. UPS, whose representatives are also here with us today, provided free shipping of machinery and supplies that were used for the rescue operation.
Thus, after 69 days underground, the 33 miners were rescued via successive trips, made by a specially designed capsule, a unique object which we hopefully never have to use again.
But, how did the capsule reach that depth? It did so thanks to the significant contribution of the Layne Christensen Company and its local partner Geotec. They immediately shared with our miners all their professional experience, the result of 128 years operating worldwide, through their geologists, engineers and state-of-the-art equipment.
We are very proud to express our sincere and eternal gratitude to the representatives of Layne Christensen here present, Jeff Hart and Matt Staffel, who were heroes of that unforgettable day.
From the very first moment, they provided the miners with cutting edge equipment and highly skilled professionals.
Thanks to that eq buipment and those who operated it, we were able to find the proverbial needle in a haystack, that is, the exact point where the miners were trapped; a major feat indeed.
I must confess that I really feel in a Hollywood Movie ....Armageddon. Astronauts and drillers trying to achieve a major accomplishment.
Mr. Bolden: if someday an asteroid approaches de Earth, you already know where to find the right guys for the job.
Another drilling machine, whose technical name we will never forget, Schramm T-130 XD, began drilling a 12-inch shaft towards the miners' shelter. Later it was widened from 12 to 29 inches.
The wider shaft reached on October 9; three days later the miners were rescued.
We have heard that the professionals and technicians that took part in this mission dubbed the pipeline "God's Hand," because it succeeded in spite of several geological problems that were threatening the operation.
We cannot forget Jeff Hart's words once he had accomplished his difficult mission: "There's an emotion there that I can't describe. It's an amazing thing, there are no words. We finally got there; we fought all this time. There's nothing more important that I will ever do."
"I will definitely tell this story to my kids."
On behalf of the miners, their families and our entire country thank you once again!
As a permanent reminder of our gratitude I am honoured to confer upon you both the rank of Knight of the Order of Bernardo O`Higgins.