Updates

During the Pioneer 23 expedition, the OOI-CGSN team achieved a major engineering and recovery milestone by successfully retrieving the remaining lower section of the Southeastern Profiler Mooring (SEPM), which had gone adrift during a severe storm in 2025. After the surface buoy was recovered by the R/V Neil Armstrong in August 2025, the bottom half of the mooring system—including the valuable wire-following profiler vehicle—remained on the seafloor. On this cruise,…

The Pioneer cruise benefited from excellent weather conditions during the successful launch of the REMUS 600 autonomous undersea vehicle (AUV), a key component of the OOI-CGSN’s comprehensive ocean observing strategy. Operated during each Pioneer turn cruise, these advanced AUVs collect high-resolution data both along-shelf and across-shelf throughout the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) array. Their missions significantly expand the spatial coverage of the Pioneer Array, complementing fixed and moored observing systems. Equipped…

With support from the R/V Neil Armstrong small boat team and favorable weather conditions, the OOI-CGSN team successfully completed critical repairs on the Northern Surface Mooring (NOSM), helping extend the operational life of this important observing platform. During the operation, damaged wind turbines on the buoy were replaced, restoring essential power-generating capabilities for the mooring system. Chris Basque is shown onboard the buoy carrying out the turbine repairs while also…

The OOI-CGSN team successfully completed recovery of the Central Surface Mooring (CNSM), marking another major operational milestone for the Pioneer Array expedition. This complex recovery included retrieval of the surface buoy, the Near Surface Instrument Frame (NSIF), and the seabed Multi-Function Node (MFN), which also serves as the system’s anchor. A key strength of the WHOI mooring design is its fully recoverable architecture. Every component of the mooring system is…

The Pioneer Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) Array includes four glider track lines strategically designed to fill geospatial gaps between mooring locations and extend observations into offshore regions beyond the core array. During the Pioneer 23 expedition, the OOI-CGSN team successfully deployed all four gliders, each of which will patrol these track lines for approximately three months while collecting valuable oceanographic data. These autonomous underwater vehicles play a critical role in broadening…

The OOI-CGSN team successfully deployed the Northern Profiler Mooring (NOPM) from the R/V Neil Armstrong, marking another important step in maintaining the Pioneer Array’s advanced ocean observing capabilities. Deployment of the NOPM is a carefully coordinated operation. The buoy is deployed first, followed by a buoyancy sphere, the profiling vehicle, and finally the anchor. Each component plays a critical role in ensuring the mooring’s long-term performance and scientific success. A…

The OOI-CGSN team successfully deployed the Central Shallow Water Mooring (CNSW) at Pioneer MAB, adding another critical component to the Pioneer Array’s comprehensive ocean observing network. A standout feature of CNSW is the Prawler, an innovative profiling vehicle designed to move up and down the mooring wire while continuously sampling the water column. As it travels, the Prawler collects important oceanographic measurements including salinity, temperature, pressure, and fluorescence—providing scientists with…