The 22-nmi transit to Site 1214 took 2.5 hr at an average speed of 8.8 kt. At 0420 hr on 12 October, the ship was switched over to dynamic positioning mode, initiating operations at Site 1214.
An RCB bottom-hole assembly was tripped to the seafloor, and the bit tagged bottom at 3413.0 meters below rig floor, or 3401.6 meters below sea level. RCB coring advanced the hole from the seafloor to 235.9 mbsf before coring time expired for the leg. Chert was encountered in drilling the first core and continued throughout the hole, which is reflected in the poor overall recovery (7%) (Table T1). The drill string was retrieved while the usual end-of-leg maintenance and inspections were performed. At 0025 hr on 15 October 2001, the bit cleared the rig floor, ending operations at Site 1214.
After securing the ship for transit, we departed Site 1214 for port at 0030 hr on 15 October. The 2500-nmi transit to Honolulu, Hawaii, took 9.85 days at an average speed of 10.75 kt. At 2100 hr on 23 October, the first line was ashore, officially ending Leg 198.