The float (serial number 3437, WMO ID 2901153) was retrieved by chance by a Philippine fisherman in the vicinity of 20.30N, 121.50E near the Batanes Island on Monday, June 29, 2009. The float was deployed by China Argo in late April 2009 in the Northwest Pacific near the Luzon Strait. So it is a very new one, and should work for several years. Remote diagnostic made by the China Argo Real-time Data Center showed that the float is in good order except for the fitting that connects the conductivity sensor and the outside tube was broken. TELEDYNE Webb Research, the manufacturer of the float promised to provide the fitting free of charge and sent it directly to Philippines via FedEx express. After replacing the damaged fitting with the new one, the float resumed normal condition. On August 14 the float, Mr. Jack Castano, who informed AIC about the finding of the float, and his villagers run a fishing boat and deployed the float at 20.24N, 121.54E and the float sent the first profile data on August 19 after redeployment. If it was not for Typhoon Maratok, the float should have returned to the sea a couple of days earlier.

Fig. 1 Mr. J. Castano and the retieved float

Fig. 2 The broken fitting of the float

Fig. 3 Philippine fishermen relaunching the float

Fig. 4 The float in the sea again

       A lady who is worth to be mentioned is Mrs. Melinda C. Javier, Mr. J. Castano’s niece, a science teacher in the local elementary school. She is the wife of the fisherman who found the float on June 29. She immediately informed Mr. Castano about the finding. When she learned the spare part had arrived and the float was ready for relaunching, she prodded her husband to allow the use of their fishing boat for returning the float to the sea. She also took her pupils to see for themselves the scientific equipment. For the children it is an educational tour, just as it did to several hundred other passersby.

       Philippine fishermen’s efforts for the return of the float to the sea are greatly appreciated by the China Argo Real-time Data Center. Prof. Xu Jianping, chief-scientist of China Argo has issued a letter of thanks (please see the Appendix I) to the principle of Ivana Elementary School, where Mrs. Melinda works to thank them for their contribution to the Argo program. We also reported the whole story to AIC (please see the Appendix II).