Month: June 2026

Week 02 – Survey Central

On June 5, 2026

This week on the Thompson we are finishing up the deployments of the first OBS array. After a final deployment Friday night, we are starting to head to the western array, taking a detour to map more of the seabed that is critical to answering this cruise’s research questions.

The aftermath of deploying the magnetometer (Maggie affectionately) during a downpour

During these long stretches of multi beaming surveys, when deployments are on hold, we have more down time. Trying to take advantage of this time when we aren’t needed for operations, the marine technicians have been showing Avery, Benny, and me the components of being an at-sea technicians and the responsibilities they have during their 12 hour watches.

Sunrise on the fantail. One of the perks of waking up at 0100

On the last few survey/transit days, we have been tackling all things networking and cables. Because of the central role that the ship’s server plays in all of the operations, networking has become a major component of the MarTech role.

So far, Liz and Andy have gone over the basics of networking and how it is applied to the ship and their day to day activities. Once we have an overall concept of how things work, they give us tasks to apply what they taught us in scenarios similar to ones they would be responsible for troubleshooting. Andy started us out with a switchboard troubleshooting assignment where we had to reconfigure a switch and the setup of 2 laptops so that we were about to communicate with them through a management computer. Liz Then had us working with network cables starting out with terminating ethernet cables and splicing and soldering wires together. More recently, we had the task of taking an ethernet cable and terminating one end into a converted DB9 connector.

Successful data stream from converted ethernet to DB9 cable activity

We have been very grateful to the technicians for going out of their way to introduce us to their jobs and keeping us busy, especially during these quiet survey periods.

Bonus! A Booby impeded our Maggie deployment this morning. He was quite irked when we interrupted his feather cleaning

Week 5 – Cables, who knew?

By Paige FitzPatrick

On June 3, 2026

In R/V Sikuliaq, University of Alaska Fairbanks

A lot of this week has been learning the basics: cables! Though cables may not be the most eye-catching blog post ever, they are an extremely important part of marine research and are essential in the proper functionality of research equipment. This week, I developed wire mapping skills using a LinkRunner AT-2000. My goal was to trace the unlabeled cables running through our main patch panel to their instruments, effectively filling the gaps in the labeling system. This took me all over the ship – bridge, electricians workshop, mainlab, ect.

I also gained experience this week pulling and running a new cable for the OS 150 ADCP sonar system. Running a new cable is harder than it may appear – passing the cable through roxtec units designed to prevent any water penetration through bulkheads can be complicated. Additionally, I learned the importance of avoiding cable attenuation, particularly in cables transmitting sensitive data that can easily lose resolution. The Sikuliaq team accomplished replacing the OS 150 cable, running a smooth route through the ship to the transducer flat. The amount of cables onboard a research vessel can be staggering. Knowing how to map and trace their patterns really helped me put together how data is transmitted from one system to the next.

Additionally, this week I prepped the top of the centerboard for welding a new reference position mark. This required full PPE and working in a very tight environment (see photos below for PPE and a view of the workspace before wire wheeling/primer). I wire wheeled the surface of the centerboard to ensure it was smooth, and I will be adding a coat of primer next.

This was a challenging work environment. However, I now feel confident that I know how to properly utilize PPE and accomplish difficult tasks in tiny spaces. Wire wheeling rust away can also be very satisfying.

-Paige FitzPatrick

Week 4 – Hello from the Transducer Room

By Paige FitzPatrick

On June 3, 2026

In R/V Sikuliaq, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Hey everyone!

The highlight of this week has been working on the Ocean Surveyor 150 ADCP sonar transducer well. Sonar wells allow access to the transducer from inside of the hull. These wells must be completely watertight as the sonar can only operate effectively in water. We first removed the lid from the well, using a chainfall to lift the heavy lid above the well to give us access to the transducer. The OS 150 transducer was unplugged from its cable and lifted from the well for cleaning. I prepared the well for a fresh gasket to ensure a watertight seal when the ship goes back in the water, using a wire wheel and a fresh coat of primer to create a smooth gasket flange and well. I cut the new gasket and additionally prepped inside the well with sound-dampening corporene material using 5200 marine-grade adhesive.

Learning to work with equipment that must create a water-tight seal has been a very valuable learning experience. Additionally, using socket wrenches that are more than half my height has given me more confidence in taking on more challenging engineering and technology tasks (see giant socket wrench pictured below).

Choosing the right tool for the job is half the battle.

-Paige FitzPatrick