Updates

Large, deck-mounted binoculars known as “big eyes” are used for marine mammal observations. NOAA Research Wildlife Biologist Peter Duley joined Leg 1 of the Pioneer-18 cruise and brought the big eyes along. Stationed on the bow for nearly all available daylight hours, Peter was able to make 43 different marine mammals sightings, including Bottlenose, Common,…

The main objectives for Leg 1 of the Pioneer-18 cruise were to complete the mooring turns (recovery of previously deployed mooring and replacement with refurbished equipment) for three Coastal Surface Moorings. Four additional objectives were also completed, resulting in four additional anchors, plus three additional buoyancy modules and line packs. The result was a very…

Everyone on deck pays close attention when the large OOI Coastal Surface Mooring buoys are recovered. The buoy tower spins when the hull is picked out of the water, and the deck team needs to be ready with a snap hook to clip into the circular rails on the tower top and arrest the motion.

The OOI Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) was used to conduct an inspection (using the ROV cameras) of equipment on the seafloor. The ROV mission team monitors progress during the dive from a control station, with the lights out to enhance contrast for the imagery. Jared Schwart is in the foreground. Jennifer Batryn is to his…

A Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) rests on the bow of the R/V Neil Armstrong. This is a bird that is rarely found north of the Caribbean, and is an extreme rarity as far north as the Pioneer Array. Brown boobys feed on flying fish, and this bird may have been looking for its favorite prey…

Deployment day for the Offshore Surface Mooring (OSSM). The Multi-Function Node (MFN) sits on the fantail of the R/V Neil Armstrong awaiting final testing. The acoustically-triggered release (yellow case) is connected to the ship’s winch wire and will be disconnected when the MFN reaches deployment depth.