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.Okeanos Explorer AtlasPoint of Contact866.732.2382The Okeanos Explorer Atlas is an interactive map application that uses ESRI ArcGIS servertechnology. The map features the expeditions of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research vessel Okeanos Explorer.The Okeanos Explorer Atlas allows users to see near-real-time ship observations and location information. Productscreated during the cruise are available, such as CTD data, shaded bathymetry, dive tracks, highlight photos or videos,and status reports.
Storms and subsequent rainbows with dolphins cavorting in the Okeanos Explorer’s bow wake get you asking the big questions. Why are we here? Not in the larger philosophical, sense but why is the Okeanos Explorer at 29⁰N, 79⁰W? With 95% of the ocean unexplored, why did NOAA choose the Blake Plateau (Stetson Mesa) to map? Last week the Okeanos Explorer vessel set out on its expedition. Until 1 May it will be mapping and observing a region in the Gulf of Mexico. Here it has also been deploying a remotely operated.
Other data can be added to the map for reference, including Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and SeaSurface Temperature (SST) contours (Climatology).In addition to the Okeanos Explorer's current location, the map can also display past cruises and products as far backas 2008. Where available, local reference data related to a particular cruise may be added to enrich the display, suchas bathymetry and project boundaries. For example, the 2010 INDEX-SATAL expedition (EX1004) includes the ship track ofthe Indonesian partner vessel, Baruna Jaya IV.Please Note: You must enable JavaScript and disable pop-up blocking for the map to function properly.Service Dashboard Info.
NOAA Teacher at SeaMeredith SalmonAboard NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerJuly 12 – 31, 2018Mission: Mapping Deep-Water Areas Southeast of Bermuda in Support of the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean CooperationDate: July 27, 2018Weather Data from the Okeanos Explorer BridgeLatitude: 28.48°NLongitude: 62.41°WAir Temperature: 27.8°CWind Speed: 10.5 knotsConditions: Partly SunnyDepth: 5272.37 metersCommanding Officer – Commander Eric Johnson, NOAA CorpsHometown: Maryland but currently resides in D.CEver since Eric was young, he had been fascinated by the ocean. After reading about Eugenie Clark’s contributions to marine science and shark research, he was hooked on learning as much as he could about the sea. Eric began his studies at St. Mary’s College of Maryland; however, he made the decision to take a six year sabbatical and work in a variety of fields to gain practical experience. During this time, he found employment as an apprentice for a deep sea salvage company and completed electrical work on ROVs for the Navy. This job granted him the opportunity to go to sea and encouraged him to apply what he learned in the field.After this six year period, Eric returned to college at the University of Maryland, majored in Marine Biology, and earned his scuba certification. Upon graduation, he was a manager at REI in College Park and volunteer diver at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
As an exhibit diver, Eric was responsible for feeding the animals by hand in the tanks, maintenance of tanks and scuba equipment, as well as educational outreach.Although Eric learned a great deal about customer service and public speaking during his time at REI and the Baltimore Aquarium, he was interested in researching a more permanent marine science career. While researching potential employment opportunities on the NOAA website, he discovered the NOAA Corps. Eric was very interested in the mission of this Uniformed Service and decided to apply. Eric was not selected the first time since he did not have direct experience working in a related field; however, he was not discouraged. Instead, Eric secured a job working at a Biotech company, reapplied to the NOAA Corps, and was selected.
Once he graduated from Basic Officer Training at the Coast Guard Academy, Eric began an extensive and impressive career with NOAA.Eric’s first sea assignment was as navigation officer on the Oregon II. He was responsible for operations focused on diving, navigation, and safety aboard this vessel. After spending two years at sea, he began his first land rotation as the Executive Officer of the NOAA Dive Program before advancing to the NOAA ship Hi’ialakai. Eric kept track of scientific diving operations aboard the Hi’ialakai, which amounted to approximately 3,000 to 4,000 dives per year! Then, Eric served as the NOAA Recruiter for a year and a half before becoming Chief of the Recruiting Branch. He found the recruiting positions to be incredibly rewarding and enjoyed encouraging those who were looking to make a difference while serving their country to apply to NOAA.
Eventually, Eric returned to his original ship, the Oregon II, as Executive Officer before beginning as Commanding Officer on the Okeanos Explorer. Although serving as the Commanding Officer is a major responsibility, Eric is dedicated to supporting NOAA’s mission in regards to science, service, and stewardship.
He finds is assignment on the Okeanos very exciting since this ship’s main purpose is ocean exploration.Throughout his career, Eric has learned that it is especially important to pursue your true interests and not be afraid to explore the unknown. Eric believes that stepping outside your comfort zone and learning how to adapt to new situations enables you to construct a skill set that will help you experience success in a variety of situations. NOAA Teacher at SeaMeredith SalmonAboard NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerJuly 12 – 31, 2018Mission: Mapping Deep-Water Areas Southeast of Bermuda in Support of the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean CooperationWeather Data from the Okeanos Explorer BridgeLatitude: 28.34°NLongitude: 64.14°WAir Temperature: 28.16°CWind Speed: 17.34 knotsConditions: Partly SunnyDepth: 5060.32 metersBrian CaldwellBrian has a true passion for exploration and science, so being part of the NOAA Corp is a perfect fit for him. Brian has an extensive educational background and enjoys advancing his knowledge about the ocean. Prior to NOAA, Brian worked as a civilian mariner for a sail training program. He served as both a captain and educator and taught non-traditional education courses about the ocean.
In addition, he worked on the NOAA ship Rainier as a wage mariner.Brian began his schooling at Miami Dade College and earned an Associate’s degree in Biology. He then attended Georgetown University and majored in Biology with a minor in Physics. During his time at Georgetown, he was the captain of Georgetown Sailing Team. Upon graduation, Brian continued his schooling and started his graduate degree abroad at the University Of Wales School Of Ocean Sciences.After 9/11, Brian honorably served in the United States Army for ten years. He completed eight combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and even conducted additional graduate work in Military History and a program in Italian Studies. After his commendable involvement with the military, Brian applied and was accepted to the NOAA Corp.
Once he graduated from Basic Officer Training at the Coast Guard Academy, he began his career with NOAA. He is now working on the Okeanos and continues to be fascinated with ocean exploration and discovery. Brian loves adventure and travel, so he considers himself very fortunate to be able to experience both while working at sea. Brian has learned that it is important to be flexible in life and never stop learning. NOAA Teacher at SeaDavid KnightAboard NOAA Ship PiscesJuly 10-23, 2018Mission: Southeast Fishery-Independent SurveyGeographic Area: Southeastern U.S. CoastDate: July 28, 2018Weather Data from Mission Viejo, California:Latitude: 33.64°Longitude: 117.62°Sea wave height: 1-2 ftWind speed: 4 ktsWind direction: 90Visibility: 10 nmAir temperature: 29.0 °CBarometric pressure: 758 mm HgSky: ClearThe past few days back home have given me a chance to share my experiences as a NOAA Teacher at Sea with family and friends and to enjoy some slime and scale free days in southern California.
I no longer have the picturesque sunrises and sunsets, but I don’t have to climb down a ladder to get out of bed anymore. I am so grateful that I was selected to be a Teacher at Sea this season and that I had an opportunity to learn from and work with some fantastic people.
NOAA Ship Pisces route for SEFIS Survey, July 10 – 23, 2018 (image from Jamie Park)My experience as a NOAA Teacher at Sea greatly exceeded my expectations and has reinvigorated me as a teacher. From the first full day on NOAA Ship Pisces, I was having fun learning about and collecting data that are used to create models of fish populations. The techniques the NOAA scientists taught me not only allowed me to contribute to their research in a small way, but it gave me an opportunity to collect data that I can immediately integrate into my classroom. My students will be able to analyze salinity, temperature, and pressure changes as depth changes, as well as biological data such as fish length, weight and age using tissue samples I was able collect while a Teacher at Sea. Furthermore, I was also able to learn about the men and women that serve as officers in the NOAA Corps, engineers, and deck crew, without whom the scientists would be unable to gather the necessary data. Meeting these dedicated men and women and learning about the mission of NOAA will allow me to help my own students know about career opportunities in marine biology and STEM fields.
Every day was an opportunity to learn and I am eager to share my experience and knowledge with my future students as well as my colleagues in Irvine.This slideshow requires JavaScript. I want to thank Nate Bacheler and the entire NOAA science group for not only teaching me how to extract otoliths and ovaries, but for answering my many questions and including me in everything. Whenever I asked if I could help out in some way I always got a, “Sure, let’s show you how to get that done.” I truly had a blast getting slimed by flopping fish. I also would not have learned so much about the NOAA Corps and the mission of NOAA without being able to freely go to the bridge and engage with the officers on duty. They too were willing to tell me the story of how the came to be NOAA Corps officers and answered my questions ranging from navigating and the propulsion of NOAA Ship Pisces to college majors and family-life. NOAA Teacher at SeaDavid TourtellotAboard NOAA Ship Thomas JeffersonJuly 9-26, 2018Mission: Hydrographic Survey – Approaches to HoustonGeographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of MexicoDate: July 21 st, 2018Weather Data from the BridgeLatitude: 29° 11.6357’ NLongitude: 093° 55.9746’WVisibility: 10+ Nautical MilesSky Condition: 6/8Wind: Direction: 224° Speed: 8.5 knotsTemperature:Seawater: 30.4°CAir: Dry bulb:31.5°C Wet bulb: 28.5°CScience and Technology LogIn my previous post, I discussed the ship’s sonar.
This time, I’ll go into more detail about the tools the Thomas Jefferson is using to complete its mission. The sonar that the ship uses is multi-beam echosounder sonar, which sends the pings down to the seafloor and receives echoes in a fan shape, allowing the ship to survey a wide swath beneath the ship. An illustration of a ship using multi-beam sonar. Image courtesy of NOAAIn addition to the multi-beam sonar, NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson utilizes two towfish, or devices that are towed in the water behind the ship.The first is the side scan sonar. Like the multi-beam, this device uses pings of soundwaves to create images of its surroundings. However unlike the multi-beam, the side scan doesn’t capture any data from the area underneath it. Instead, it collects data to its sides.
The side scan is connected to the ship via a cable, and is dragged through the water 6-15 meters above the seafloor. It is great for measuring the intensity of the return of the ping, which provides insights into the makeup of the seafloor. The side scan towfishThe second towfish that the Thomas Jefferson is using is the MVP (like many things on the ship, MVP is an acronym, for Moving Vessel Profiler). The MVP truly gives the ship some of its most valuable data.
As I discussed in my previous blog post, in order for us to accurately calculate the distance that the sonar’s pings are traveling, we need to know the amount of time it takes them to travel, as well as the velocity, or the speed, at which they’re moving. The singarounds I mentioned in my last post measure sound velocity, but only at the face of the sonar.
Water conditions are not uniform – at the surface, water tends to be warmer, with less salinity. As you get deeper, however, the water tends to be colder and saltier. This means that the velocity of sound changes the deeper you get.
Most of the time, the MVP rides just under the surface of the water, but periodically it will get cast down, to approximately 1 meter above the seafloor. It measures the water conditions of the entire water column from the surface to the seafloor, allowing us to calculate sound velocity all the way down. The MVP towfish as it is being lowered into the waterThe MVP measures the same water qualities as the CTD (a device I discussed in an earlier blog post), however, the MVP has a distinct advantage over the CTD. In order to use a CTD, the ship has to come to a stop while the CTD is lowered into the water. The MVP, however, can be used while the ship is in motion, which greatly increases productivity.When surveying, many on the crew say it’s like mowing the lawn. The ship will capture a long stretch of data, called a line, and then turn around, and capture another stretch. 4% of these lines are cross lines, which run perpendicular, across a wide swath of lines of captured data.
Cross lines allow the survey department to double check that the data they’ve captured is accurate. The bridge of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson at nightWhile on the bridge, I had the opportunity to ask ENS Garrison Grant (who had recently been selected for a promotion to Lieutenant Junior Grade – congratulations Garrison!) a little about the NOAA Corps.
I must admit that I was largely unfamiliar with them before joining the Thomas Jefferson.The NOAA Corps as we know it today began in 1970, though its roots are much older. As president, Thomas Jefferson (for whom NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is named) created the United States Survey of the Coast, which would later evolve into the United States Coast & Geodetic Survey. Their early operations were not unlike the survey work that NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is doing today, though their tools were more primitive: surveyors wanting to determine the depths of America’s bodies of water didn’t have the benefit of sonar, and instead used lead lines – lead weights tied to the end of ropes. These surveyors would also play a vital role in our military history. They would often assist artillery, and survey battlefields. This is what led to the United States Coast & Geodetic Survey (and later, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to gain a commissioned uniformed service. Due to the rules of war, captured uniformed service members could not be tried as spies.To join the NOAA Corps today, you need to first have a bachelor’s degree.
ENS Grant received his degree from Stockton University in Marine Sciences, but he says that it isn’t a requirement that the degree be in a maritime field. He says that some of his classmates had degrees in fields such as English or Communications. After getting a degree, you then apply to join the NOAA Corps (anyone interested should check out this website: ). If selected, you would then complete the Basic Officer Training Class (BOTC), which generally takes about 6 months.
After that, you’d be given your first assignment.Did you know? Before NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson was operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it belonged to the U.S. Navy and was known as the U.S.N.S. Littlehales Posted inTagged,.
NOAA Teacher at SeaTaylor PlanzAboard NOAA Ship FairweatherJuly 9 – 20, 2018Mission:Geographic Area of Cruise: Point Hope, Alaska and vicinityDate: July 19, 2018 at 10:53amWeather Data from the BridgeLatitude: 65° 15.541′ NLongitude: 168° 50.424′ WWind: 10 knots NW, gusts up to 20 knotsBarometer: 765.06 mmHgVisibility: 8 nautical milesTemperature: 7.4° CSea Surface 7.2° CWeather: Overcast, light drizzleInterview Issue!NOAA hires employees with many different career specialties. So many in fact that I cannot cover them all in one blog post.
In an effort to give you a glimpse into some of the day to day happenings of the ship, I chose three different people with widely varying careers to interview today. The first is Oiler Kyle Mosier, who works in the engineering department. Next is Erin Billings, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service visiting NOAA for this leg of the mission. Finally, ENS Jeffrey Calderon who works for the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps as the Medical Person In Charge.Oiler Kyle Mosier. Oiler Kyle MosierWhat is your job on NOAA Ship Fairweather?“I am an oiler in the engineering department, and my job is to do maintenance work and watches when we are underway.
During my work day, I complete a list of maintenance items called a SAMMS list. On a given day, I might clean strainers, air supply, or air filters. We have 5 fan rooms; fan rooms 1 and 3 go to our staterooms, so I make sure those are always clean.”What tool do you use in your work that you could not live without?“An adjustable wrench. We use wrenches just about every day, so if I only had one wrench (and one tool) it would be the one that can adjust to many sizes.”What do you think you would be doing if you were not working on a NOAA ship?“My dream job is to be a successful writer. I got started in high school just writing for fun, and I got better as I went through college. I also took an art class in college, and the teacher let me work on my own project ideas.
I made my first book cover in that class, for a book called “Natalie and the Gift of Life”. I brought back my original character Natalie years later because I loved that first book so much, and I’m a much better writer now versus back then.
My most recent book is “Natalie and the Search for Atlantis”.”What advice would you give to students who may be interested in a job like yours?“Some people only get certified to be an Oiler, but I went to the Maritime Academy and got my QMED certification (Qualified Member of the Engine Department). I recommend this pathway because it qualifies you to be an electrician, oiler, junior unlicensed engineer, and work in refrigeration. You’re not stuck with one job; instead, you have many different choices for what kind of job you do.”Erin Billings. Meteorologist Erin BillingsTell me about what you do for a living.“I am general forecaster for the National Weather Service in Fairbanks, Alaska. I produce forecasts for northern Alaska and the adjacent waters. As an organization, we forecast for approximately 350,000 square miles of land area.”What do you enjoy most about your work?“It’s like putting all the pieces of a puzzle together. Forecasting is a lot about pattern recognition.
People also rely a lot on forecasts, so I feel like my job is important for people as they plan their day, their weekend, and even their vacations.”What parts of your job can be challenging?“When you have a lot going on and the weather is frequently changing, it can be hard to choose what area gets looked at first as well as managing the time it takes to do that. I work rotating shifts as well, so my work hours are always changing and sometimes I work 7 days in a week. I love what I do though, so there’s a trade off.”What advice would you give to students who may be interested in a job like yours?“In order to get in to a meteorological position, you should find a way to set yourself apart from other people. Get a good foundation of science and math, but focus on something else you can bring to the table. Examples could be learning a foreign language, learning computer programming, or completing an internship or relevant volunteer position.
Setting yourself apart will make you more competitive than everyone else who is applying for the same job and has the same degree as you.”Ensign Jeffrey Calderon. Ensign Jeffrey CalderonWhat is your job on NOAA Ship Fairweather?“I am a Junior Officer with the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. My job is administration of the ship, which is broken down into collateral duties.
Each duty needs to be completed to keep the ship operating smoothly. I am the Medical Person in Charge, so I keep track of all the medicines, make sure they haven’t expired, order medical supplies, and inspect medical equipment. I can also perform CPR and first aid. I can follow a doctor’s order to administer medication, including IVs.
I am also in charge of all of the keys on the ship; there are about 300. I have to get them back from people when they leave and make copies when needed. I am the auxiliary data manager on the ship. I collect weather data, inspect the sensors (anemometer, barometer, etc), and upload the data to an online system. I also drive and navigate the ship and the small launch boat.”What do you enjoy most about your work?“I like being on a ship because I get to travel and see things that I will remember all my life. On the Fairweather, I get to see the aurora borealis, mountains, fjords, whales things that not everyone gets to see.
It also forces me to face new challenges; there’s always something I have to master and learn. I may have to fight a fire on the ship or go out on a launch and rescue somebody on the water.”What do you miss the most when you are at sea?“I miss having a real bed. I miss the privacy too. My stateroom is a 2-person stateroom.”What advice would you give to students who may be interested in a job like yours?“Pick a science-related path. It will be challenging, but it will be worth it in the long run. Science degrees will better prepare you for challenging careers, and it will prove to future employers that you can persevere through challenges. NOAA is also looking for people with good moral character, so stay out of trouble.”Question of the DayWhat are the eligibility requirements to be in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps?Answer to Last Question of the DayAs mentioned above, northern Alaska reaches temperatures colder than most people can even imagine! Nome’s record low temperature occurred on January 27, 1989.
Without using the internet, how cold do you think Nome got on that day?The coldest temperature on record in Nome, Alaska is -54° Fahrenheit! Posted inTagged,. NOAA Ship Pisces SealMy first day on NOAA Ship Pisces I was introduced to about 300 different people.
Well, maybe it was more like 30, but it sure seemed like a lot of people were aboard. NOAA vessels have civilian personnel that perform a myriad of important duties, scientists that assist in planning and carrying out the various missions of the ship, and commissioned NOAA Corps Officers that ensure the mission of NOAA is carried out.Engineers are responsible for making sure that all of the systems on the ship are operating properly.
The engineers must be able to fix and maintain all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems on the ship. It’s this important group that makes sure the A/C is working in our cabins and that the propulsion system gets us from one trap site to the next.
Members of the deck department use equipment to lower CTD units, bring up traps, deploy and retrieve buoys, and maintain watches throughout the day. These men and women are responsible for making sure very expensive equipment is safely and effectively used. As a research vessel, the Survey department’s role in the acquisition and processing of oceanographic and survey data is crucial. These individuals operate and analyze data from a number of different pieces of equipment including the CTD and the multibeam echosounder.
And finally, there are the Stewards. The stewards are the ones responsible for making sure everyone is well fed and comfortable.
They prepare and plan all meals, ensure the pantry is stocked and ready for each mission, and that all of the common areas are clean and sanitary.Soon after boarding, I met Ensign Luke Evancoe, the newest NOAA Corps Officer to join the NOAA Ship Pisces. After talking to him briefly and learning about his varied background and the circuitous route that brought him to NOAA, I decided I wanted to interview him and find out more about his role as a NOAA Corps Officer.
Ensign Luke Evancoe, NOAA Ship Pisces newest NOAA Corps OfficerWhere are you from and what did you do before coming to NOAA?I grew up in Pittsburgh and have a B.S. In Biology and Masters in Teaching from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. After high school and two years of college, I decided to join the United States Marine Corps and become an Infantryman.
While in the Marine Corps I was a member of the, a 24-member team that are ambassadors of the USMC that perform at sporting events and parades. I was then deployed to Afghanistan for seven months.
I was a vehicle commander for an MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle.After the Marine Corps, Mr. Evancoe went back to VCU and then became a sixth grade science teacher at the Franklin Military Academy in Richmond, Virginia where he taught for two and one half years. While at a research symposium, he learned about the work of NOAA and the NOAA Corps and decided to apply to the program and once he was accepted, left teaching to train to become an NOAA Corps Officer.What was a memorable experience while you were teaching?My most memorable experience teaching was when I successfully executed an experiment to see whether the myth that if someone moves while stuck in quicksand, they sink faster than if they remained motionless was true or not. Using Hexbugs, which are tiny robot bugs, my students tested whether the Hexbugs which were turned on and “squirming” sank into a cornmeal mix (the quicksand) at a faster or slower rate than Hexbugs that were turned off. It was a simple, yet fun way to demonstrate the basics of the scientific method to middle school children.Tell us about your training with NOAA Corps.The NOAA Corps training lasts 19 weeks and is held at the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Our training is called Basic Officer Training Class (BOTC) and is carried out alongside the Coast Guard Officer Candidates.The training is similar to the military academies in that we wear a uniform, start our day at about 5 a.m., go to classes and are expected to carry out other duties when we are not in class.
It is very regimented, but it is also rewarding. Ensign Evancoe (on the left, 5th from the bottom)How is training for NOAA Corps similar to your Marine Corps training that you received?They are really incomparable.
What is similar, however, is the training you receive in leadership and discipline and how to best represent yourself as a member of a uniformed service for the United States.What types of things do you learn during your BOTC training?As I mentioned, we learn a lot about leadership, but we also learn about the goals and mission of NOAA and the role of officers in fulfilling that mission. Obviously, we also learn about skills that will allow us to be good seamen. We have to know about all of the different operations of a NOAA ship like propulsion, navigation, and communication and we also learn the skills of each of the departments like engineering and the deck crew.
We learn different nautical skills and about maritime regulations. Obviously, we learn how to handle both large ships and small vessels.The training program involves a lot of hands on opportunities beside the classroom sessions we have.
It is similar to how you would teach science with some lecture time and then lab time.You are currently an ensign, what are your duties right now?I am considered a Junior Officer of the Deck (JOOD). I am assigned two 4-hour watches on the bridge. During this time, I am driving the ship as we transit from one location to another or as we drop and pick up traps. You have to multi-task very well.
I have to be listening to the radios as the crew relays information to the bridge, the scientists also communicate with the bridge as traps are being deployed or retrieved, I have to know our speed, pay attention to the strength of the current, wind direction and its speed, I have to watch for other vessels in the area, there’s a whole lot going on. Fortunately, I am being mentored by a senior officer when I am on the bridge. All of the training I am currently doing will allow me to become an Officer of the Deck (OOD) which will allow me to be unsupervised on the bridge.What is the most difficult aspect of driving the ship?The most difficult aspect of driving the ship would have to be maintaining an understanding of the current state of the wind, currents, and swell, while realizing that these variables can change multiple times over the course of a watch; a strategy that I was using to pick up fish traps the first hour of watch may not work at all with how the sea state has changed an hour later. NOAA Ship Pisces in portIn addition to my shifts on the bridge, I have collateral duties that I am learning.
For instance, I am learning the duties of the Navigation Officer who is responsible for ensuring that all of the navigation charts are up to date, that the navigation equipment is working properly, and that upcoming tracklines are laid out on our charts and approved by the CO. The Imprest Officer is responsible for managing some of the ship’s funds and making sure the wage mariners are paid when required. I am also learning about the duties of the Movie Officer. We have a large inventory of movies from the US Navy that have to be cataloged and replaced. We get movies that are still playing in theaters so crew members can use their time when they are not on duty to relax. It’s important that people can relax.
Finally, I am coming up to speed with the duties of the Property Officer, who maintains inventory of all of the ship’s electronically-based and sensitive property and accounts for assets that must be properly disposed of.What is the OOD workbook?It is like on-the-job training. The work that I do in the workbook helps me put into practice the things I learned at BOTC, and once I have completed the workbook and it has been approved, it will allow me to stand watch on the bridge without supervision.The workbook assesses my knowledge of the mission and maintaining the safety and security of the ship.What didn’t you realize before you became a NOAA officer that you discovered since joining the NOAA Corps?I guess I did not realize that, as an officer, you have to know everyone else’s job in addition to yours. An officer is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the ship, so I have to be knowledgeable in not just navigating or driving the ship, but I also have to know about all the other departments. It’s a lot to know, but I find it very rewarding.What are your goals with NOAA?My commitment as a NOAA Officer is three years, but I plan on making this my career. After my two years on NOAA Ship Pisces I will then spend time at my land based assignment. I enjoy my job because I am involved in collecting valuable data for the scientists to analyze, there is a lot of responsibility and you have to constantly be 100% engaged in your work, and you get to see and experience amazing things while at sea.Personal LogThere is always work to be done on the NOAA Ship Pisces, but at the end of a day there may be time to relax and to play a little Corn Hole.
Sunday evening the scientific team cleared the back deck for a little tournament. Playing Corn Hole on a moving ship is quite a bit different than playing in your back yard!
Just as you are getting ready to release the bag a swell will move the ship and cause your bag to miss the board—-at least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
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