ITP 90 Deployment

ITP 90 was the last of 3 ITPs deployed during the NABOS 2015 cruise. Still in the northern regions after the last ITP deployment with the best chances for good floes, the ship attempted to park against a couple of the larger floes so that ITP 90 could be deployed on ice, but it did not work out. The good ice was 70 miles north (according to the ice pilot) which was too far away for the ship to get to and keep on schedule for the cruise. Consequently, it was decided to deploy the ITP in open water.

Several days after performing other science operations and steaming westward for another 15 miles to get into deeper water so that the ITP tether would not drag on the shelf, the deployment site was decided on.

ITP90 was launched off the starboard bow, using the large ship's small crane plus tie-downs at the rail (weather conditions prevented using the massive cargo crane during high winds). Operating in darkness, the operation proceeded smoothly and after a bit more than a hour after putting the anchor over the side, the ITP surface buoy was released with a (minor) splash, and quickly drifted away into the dark.

Data Processing

Final data

Jim Dunn ensures that the ITP tether wire is paying out properly over the side of the ship using a block suspended from the crane. (Photo by Frank Bahr)

Transferring the load of the mooring from the winch to the buoy and tether suspended from the ship’s crane. (Photo by Frank Bahr)

(Photo by Frank Bahr)

In 2019, the surface buoy was discovered washed ashore in Andenes, Norway and was returned to WHOI with the assistance of the Norwegian Polar Institute. (Photo by Mats Kristensen)