Updates
Armstrong on the Way
October 24, 2023
The OOI-Coastal and Global Scale Node (CGSN) team will deploy the Shallow Water Mooring south of Martha’s Vineyard enroute to the proposed Pioneer Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) location. Once at Pioneer MAB, they will recover the test Coastal Surface Mooring after 8 months collecting engineering data. They will also perform surveys and ROV inspections of potential mooring sites.
Loaded and Ready to Go!
October 24, 2023
The Shallow Water Mooring has been loaded on the R/V Neil Armstrong and fully integrated. This means the buoy, riser, multi-function node, and profiling vehicle are complete, operating, and transmitting test data. The system will operate right up until departure to ensure all systems are ready for deployment.
Safety First
October 23, 2023
Safety is always a key aspect of going to sea. One of the first things we do is have a safety drill so that we understand what the different ship alarms mean, where we need to muster in the case of an emergency, and how to don and use our personal protective equipment. Science party member, John Lund, helps Chief Mate, Chris Mannka, demonstrate how to put on an exposure…
Preparing the Test Mooring
October 20, 2023
At-Sea Test 4 cruise will include the first deployment of new Shallow Water Mooring (SWM) components. The mooring will be deployed for a few months to test the seabed multifunction node, buoyant stretch hose, riser cable, and Prawler profiling vehicle. Engineering data will be collected and assessed prior to deployment at the proposed Pioneer Mid-Atlantic Bight in Spring 2024.
Anchors, then Away
October 9, 2023
Two anchors were recovered — the Washington Offshore Profiling mooring anchor and the Washington Offshore surface mooring anchor — and the R/V Atltantis and the Endurance 19 team headed for Astoria and home. The team arrived in port on Saturday October 7 to begin the process of offloading the quite full ship, then loading trucks to return the moorings to Corvallis to begin the refurbishment process for the next recovery…
Deployment and Recovery
October 5, 2023
The work continues. On Tuesday, October 4, the Endurance 19 Team aboard the R/V Atlantis deployed the Washington Shelf surface mooring, making room on the back deck for the recovery of the Washington Inshore mooring. After its recovery, the team proceeded to clean the Inshore mooring that had a heavy layer of biofouling caked on, including a starfish who had sought refuge on the mooring.
Nature’s Gifts
October 5, 2023
Sometimes while at sea nature offers up lovely gifts to compensate for other less-than-ideal working conditions. During the Endurance 19 Expedition, the team and crew of the R/V Atlantis were treated to a fogbow, glorious sunrise, and a starfish who tagged along to say hello during an anchor retrieval.
Work and Weather Continue
October 3, 2023
On October 2, the Endurance 19 Team successfully deployed the Oregon inshore surface mooring (CE01ISSM). The waves were high, the weather gray, and the air cold, but the Team carried on to accomplish its objectives in the remaining days of the expedition.
Humor Needed
October 3, 2023
A sense of humor is often required when weather and sea conditions are less than ideal yet the job needs to get done. Here, Technician Raelynn Heinitz and Deck Lead Alex Wick demonstrate their good humor as caught by the digital still camera of the bottom lander, while they were testing acoustic releases on deck before the Oregon Inshore Mooring deployment. The team goes through rigorous checks and tests before…
Moorings Recovered
October 2, 2023
The weather finally settled down enough for the Endurance 19 Team to get back to sea and continue mooring recoveries and deployments. During Leg 2, the Team aboard the R/V Atlantis deployed, the Oregon Shelf Surface Mooring and Offshore Surface Mooring. These deployments made room on the ship for the recovery of the Inshore and Offshore Surface Moorings and the Inshore Coastal Surface Profiler Mooring. Lead Scientist Ed Dever attributed” great…