Updates
Heavy Winch Test
March 19, 2024
In preparation for the Endurance 20 expedition, the heavy winch to be used in recovery and deployment operations on the R/V Sikuliaq, is lifted in the yard at the Ocean Observing Center in Corvallis. The heavy winch will be loaded on a tractor trailer for transport to the newly renovated Oregon State University Pier in Newport, Oregon.
Pre-Deployment Testing
March 15, 2024
Pre-deployment testing of the Imaging Flow CytoBot (IFCB) to be deployed on the Central surface mooring of the Pioneer MAB Array. OOI team members Nikki Arm (left), Sheri White (center) and Sawyer Newman (right) lower the IFCB into the test well at the WHOI dock.
Seabed Survey
November 1, 2023
The OOI-CGSN team surveyed the seabed to better understand the layout of the proposed moorings sites. The RV Neil Armstrong operated a hull-mounted acoustic equipment to collect bathymetry (depth contours), backscatter imagery (seabed characterization), and subbottom data (seabed profile and geophysical layering). Chris Basque, Irene Duran, and John Lund also piloted the ROV over the mooring locations to collect images, video, and high-resolution sonar of the seabed.
Big Eyes Along the Mid-Atlantic Coast
November 1, 2023
Large binoculars called “big eyes” are used to help marine mammal observers detect and identify distant sightings. Personnel from the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service were graciously included in the OOI Pioneer Array cruise as part of an exploratory survey targeting North Atlantic right whales and recording all other marine mammals encountered. The population is painfully small, with only around 350 individual North Atlantic right whales left. One of the most important…
Safe and Sound
October 30, 2023
Here the test Coastal Surface Mooring is safely on deck after ~8 months operating at the proposed Pioneer Mid-Atlantic Bight location. The mooring was deployed in a water depth of 30m and survived storms with max wave heights of 7.5-10m, and continued to send data to shore!
Surface Mooring Recovery
October 27, 2023
It may seem calm at the surface, but there’s a lot of action below…The OOI-CGSN team used the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to inspect the Coastal Surface Mooring and the Multifunction Node (MFN) prior to recovery. Chris Basque and John Lund then piloted the ROV over to the MFN and attached a hook and recovery line using the ROV manipulator arm. The RV Neil Armstrong then recovered the full mooring…
Sunrise at Sea
October 26, 2023
Chris Basque, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution deck lead, takes advantage of the calm seas and bright sunrise to survey the work area and plan the recovery of the test Coastal Surface Mooring located at the proposed Pioneer MAB Array site.
As Seen from Below
October 25, 2023
Everything looks good! The Remotely Operated Vehicle was deployed by the OOI-CGSN team to inspect the underwater components of the Shallow Water Mooring after deployment. The ROV captured images of the Multifunction Node sitting on the seabed (1), the mechanical bend restrictors on the riser (2), and an image of the Prawler profiling vehicle moving up the wire(3)!
As Seen from the Air
October 25, 2023
And here’s what the successful deployment of OOI’s experimental surface mooring off Martha’s Vineyard looked like from the air.
Test is Underway
October 25, 2023
The OOI-CGSN team and the R/V Neil Armstrong successfully deployed the Shallow Water Mooring which will now collect engineering data so the team can assess the performance of the mooring and the new profiling vehicle.