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Successful Completion of Papa Array Operations

On the final day of operations at the Papa Array, NOAA-PMEL and UW-APL teams conducted final inspections of the surface and Waverider moorings to verify performance before departing the site. All moorings at the Papa Array, including OOI-CGSN subsurface moorings, are fully operational and transmitting data. Congrats to the team on a successful expedition!

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Cruise Update – SKQ202511S (May 29-30)

The final two days of Cruise #SKQ202511S wrapped up with successful recoveries and smooth operations. On May 29, the team conducted a 4,100m CTD cast and acoustic data download at site FLMA-11. All instruments were operational. This was followed by the final OOI mooring recovery at the same site, completed without issue. While transiting to…

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From the Deep: HYPM Recovery Complete

After spending a full year in the depths of the ocean, the Hybrid Profiler Mooring (HYPM) has been successfully recovered by the CGSN team aboard the RV Sikuliaq. Using an acoustic release command, the team triggered the mooring to detach from its anchor and ascend to the surface. What came up: the bright orange syntactic…

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Cruise Update – SKQ202511S (May 27-28)

Tuesday, May 27:Calm seas made for ideal conditions to begin early morning prep for the FLMB-12 mooring deployment. The mooring was rigged, instruments mounted, and the 64” upper sphere placed between the A-frame. Following a GAR check, deployment went smoothly just after breakfast. After safely moving off-site, the team conducted a full-depth 4,100m CTD cast,…

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A Year Below the Surface: HYPM Deployment at the Papa Array

Better than a racecar pit crew? We’d say yes. On land, pit crews get another shot when the car comes back around. At sea, when our equipment goes overboard, it’s out of sight for an entire year—no second chances. That’s what makes precise coordination and timing so essential during deployments like this one aboard the…

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Cruise Update – SKQ202511S (May 25-26)

Sunday, May 25:With calmer seas and favorable weather, the team aboard the R/V Sikuliaq successfully recovered the HYPM-11 mooring. Acoustic checks the day before confirmed all systems were functioning, and the two-stage recovery design allowed for safe and efficient operations. By 14:00 local, all components were on deck and secured. The team also completed an…

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Cruise Update – SKQ202511S (May 23-24)

April 23:After a bumpy overnight transit, the R/V Sikuliaq arrived at the glider box Friday morning. Sea conditions ruled out glider recoveries, but two gliders—380 (profiling) and 276 (open ocean)—were successfully deployed. A 1,000m CTD cast with water samples followed. That afternoon, the HYPM-12 mooring was deployed, with its anchor dropped around 19:30. A 4,100m…

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Cruise Update – SKQ202511S (May 22)

Following a smooth transit, the R/V Sikuliaq arrived early Thursday at the NOAA PMEL 2025 mooring site, about 4 nm east of the target location. After a pre-op briefing and GAR risk assessment, conditions were deemed safe, and the mooring—with its newly installed FDCHP sensor—was successfully deployed around 08:45. The anchor followed three hours later.…

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Safety First: Drills Aboard the R/V Sikuliaq

Before setting sail from Seward, AK, the Papa 12 cruise team aboard the R/V Sikuliaq completed standard pre-departure safety training. These drills are a critical part of every research cruise, ensuring that both the science party and ship crew are prepared for emergency situations at sea. The safety procedures included survival suit practice and rescue…

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