Now that science operations are over, there was time this week for some interesting events before we docked in Seward. The Healy’s engineers gave everyone a tour of the ship’s engineering spaces. This included the engines/generators, motors, cycloconverters, and the control center. We started off in one of the two engine rooms. The scale of the engines was immense. They were so big, they needed catwalks to access all sides of them. Each diesel engine had twelve cylinders in a V configuration, and the valve boxes on each one looked large enough to sit in. These engines drive massive generators, providing power for the electric propulsion motors as well as the rest of the ship. The engineers then led us to the control center, where they spent a few minutes answering questions and showing us how they monitor the ship’s workings. From there, we went down to the motor room, where the two huge AC propulsion motors turned the Healy’s propellers.
Next up, the science party gave a presentation on what they had been studying on this cruise. Much of their talk centered around the moorings that had been recovered in the past few weeks. Some of the moorings recorded sound, temperature, and salinity for an entire year underwater. Others emitted sounds that were recorded by the other moorings. The data collected will allow the scientists to model the acoustic environment of the area. Although I had read about the experiment and its objectives, getting an explanation from the brains behind the project helped tie everything together.
The day after the presentation, the Healy docked in Seward. The science party left while the ship was in port. We had several days to pack up sensors, work on diagrams, and solve a few electronic issues that had come up on earlier cruises. It was good to spend time on solid ground and take a break from eating the ship’s food. The STARC technicians for the transit back to Seattle arrived from Anchorage, and the techs who I had worked with departed. This afternoon, the ship left Seward. We will be making one more stop in Juneau before Seattle, our final destination. It’s strange to think that my internship is ending in a little over a week.