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Puerto Rico & Vieques 2008 Cruise, day eight: April 02, 2008
Mother Nature is really giving us a time out here. Yesterday, we had to call off dive operations for the afternoon due to high winds. Wind gusts continued today, up to 40 knots at times, and we were unable to get out all day. This an unfortunate fact of conducting research at sea.
stateroom aboard
NANCY FOSTER
(credit: Amy V.
Uhrin)
(credit: Amy V.
Uhrin)
(credit: Amy V.
Uhrin)
Greg on
the crane.
(credit: Amy V.
Uhrin)
About the NANCY FOSTER
NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER was originally built for the U.S. Navy as a yard torpedo test craft. The vessel is 187 feet long, 40 feet in breadth, and drafts 10 feet. In 2001, the ship was transferred to NOAA and converted to conduct marine research along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States and the Caribbean. The ship was commissioned in 2003 and named for Dr. Nancy Foster in tribute to her outstanding contributions in advancing NOAA’s mission. The vessel is capable of remaining at sea for 14 days before returning to port to refuel. NANCY FOSTER homeports in Charleston, South Carolina.
Life at sea
In addition to withstanding the rolling of the ship, inclement weather, equipment malfunctions, and other typical incidents at sea, spending 10 days on a research cruise requires patience, flexibility, and consideration for others. Scientists must remember and respect that NANCY FOSTER is home for the crew. Imagine being inundated with 14 crazy relatives all coming to stay at your house for a couple of weeks.
Scientists bunk in staterooms consisting of two sets of bunk beds (racks), a sink, and four lockers. A typical stateroom on NANCY FOSTER berths four scientists comfortably. If you didn’t know your roommates before the cruise, you will certainly get to know them intimately, living in such close quarters. Bathrooms (heads) are same–sex, with separate stalls with lockable doors for showers and toilets. Lito Llena and Dennis Moore cook up their culinary delights in the galley, and everyone eats together in the mess hall during established meal times. For entertainment, there is a "theater" with a library of over 600 movies, a small area with board games and books, and a small workout room with some exercise equipment and free weights.
When not in the field, scientists spend the majority of their time in the wet and dry labs, prepping equipment, processing samples, logging data, and organizing the Plan of the Day.
Starting the Day
Each day begins with the launching of the small boats, involving no less than four line handlers and one crane operator to tame each boat like a Macy’s Parade balloon. This is no easy task, especially in rough seas as we have been experiencing the past two days. Our thanks to the crew once again for seeing us off safely each morning.
 Lito and Dennis in the galley (credit: Amy V. Uhrin) |
Click photos to enlarge |  The dry lab (credit: Amy V. Uhrin) |
Greg Walker (on the crane), and Bosun Group Leader, Gordon Pringle, prepare the harness of a small boat prior to launching. |
General Vessel Assistant, Jeremy Brock (left) and the NANCY FOSTER’s Commanding Officer, Ralph Rogers, man the "air tuggers" that assist in stabilizing the small boats while they are being hoisted by the crane. |
NANCY FOSTER’s Operations Officer, Sarah Mrokek (foreground) and Junior Officer Trey Emmons, secure lines prior to full deployment as Captain Rogers observes. |