EPISODE 8
A ship named CRAESTAR (part 1)
Duration - 45 mins
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In the mid 1960's, CRA was exploring for copper deposits in the SW Pacific. They had success with a deposit called Panguna on the island of Bougainville. But exploring other islands was proving to be a challenge. The company needed to be quick and to stay ahead of their competitors. Traditional methods were too slow. They needed a new way. They needed to innovate.
The solution the company came up with...the MV CRAESTAR, a retrofitted fishing trawler with a heli-pad and an analytical geochemical laboratory on board. The ship was a floating exploration base. It could go anywhere in the Pacific...allowing geologists to access any coastal river or stream on any island. It was built for speed and efficiency. It allowed CRA to do more in 5 years than most companies can accomplish in a decade.
This episode explores the beginnings of the CRAESTAR program. We dig into how CRA developed a staged process of continuous experimentation and tinkering...and how all those little innovations came together to become the CRAESTAR program.
What does the CRAESTAR program teach us about innovation on the front line...and what lessons can we learn from it?
The solution the company came up with...the MV CRAESTAR, a retrofitted fishing trawler with a heli-pad and an analytical geochemical laboratory on board. The ship was a floating exploration base. It could go anywhere in the Pacific...allowing geologists to access any coastal river or stream on any island. It was built for speed and efficiency. It allowed CRA to do more in 5 years than most companies can accomplish in a decade.
This episode explores the beginnings of the CRAESTAR program. We dig into how CRA developed a staged process of continuous experimentation and tinkering...and how all those little innovations came together to become the CRAESTAR program.
What does the CRAESTAR program teach us about innovation on the front line...and what lessons can we learn from it?
For Tomorrow, a 1966 documentary covering CRA's discovery of Panguna in Bougainville and their exploration activities in the Pacific Islands. The ship CRAESTAR makes an appearance at 25:35 in the video.
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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFO
For Tomorrow Documentary - YouTube Video The hope factor by Anthony R. Hope Book People, Prospects and Persistence - A history of Rio Tinto Exploration Book CRA Gazette from 09/08/1974 Magazine article. |