and support services and finance. Considerable time was also involved in the contractor's preparations, which included the manufacture of 22 000 feet of specially designed cable. Eventually, after much time, Operation Resolve got under way, only to be delayed repeatedly by cable failures, necessitating more often than not a return to port in Mauritius, and by unfavourable weather. Meanwhile, as evidence was gradually being accumulated, more and yet more scientific and technical research and testing were called for. In particular, after the recovery of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and selected items of wreckage, the work of identifying and assembling as much of the wreckage as possible, and of analyzing and evaluating the metallurgical, chemical and other signs, had to be pursued painstakingly and thoroughly.
In the event the time taken up was more than justified.
