Updates

The R/V Neil Armstrong neared Woods Hole after a successful Pioneer 21 Leg 2 expedition, scheduled to arrive Sunday morning at 09:00. Over the course of the cruise, the science and engineering teams completed all primary objectives, advancing OOI’s coastal ocean observing efforts. In the final days at sea, the team completed a fourth transect along the LTER line, conducting CTD casts at the L10, L8, L6, and L4 stations….

The Pioneer 21 Leg 2 expedition continued with steady progress over the past two days, successfully completing the final major mooring operations and supporting regional oceanographic research. Operations began with a shift to the East Array Profiler Mooring (EAPM) site, where the team conducted a smooth and efficient mooring turnover. Under sunny skies and calm seas, EAPM-2 was deployed according to plan, followed by a CTD verification cast and the…

Calm seas and light winds supported two efficient days of operations aboard the R/V Neil Armstrong as the Pioneer 21 Leg 2 team completed major mooring work and regional surveys. On April 14, the Southern Offshore Profiler Mooring (SOPM-2) was deployed successfully after an early morning setup. Post-deployment checks confirmed all systems were in good condition. The team then recovered the heavily biofouled SOPM-1 buoy, complete with a fisherman dock…

Leg 2 of the Pioneer 21 spring expedition kicked off with smooth transit from Woods Hole and calm seas that allowed for CTD work along the LTER line. The science and engineering teams used the transit time to finalize documentation and prep for the operational push ahead. At the Central (CN) site, operations began with an ROV dive to inspect the CNSW-1 mooring. The MFN and buoy were recovered—biofouled but…

Leg 1 of the Pioneer 21 cruise has officially wrapped with the successful completion of all planned objectives in the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Following several smooth surface mooring recoveries—supported by calm seas and expert deck work—the team conducted a final ROV survey at the alternate Western Shallow Water (WESW) mooring site. The ROV was launched shortly after breakfast and surveyed both the northern and southern target areas. The dive revealed no…

The Pioneer 21 team continues to make steady progress as operations shift toward wrapping up Leg 1. Overnight, the crew closely monitored AUVs Roger and Scotland as they conducted alongshore CTD surveys. Early in the morning, the ship temporarily diverted from the CTD line to acoustically communicate with Roger, allowing it to continue its cross-shelf mission. Later, the vessel repositioned near the SOSM buoys to re-establish contact with Scotland and…