It’s week three and we’ve nearly completed our western survey lines, parallel to the Reykjanes Ridge, about 300 – 500 km east of Greenland. Daily work has continued to consist primarily of monitoring multibeam, sub-bottom, magnetic, and gravity data acquisition, as well as post-processing multibeam data and routinely launching XBT’s to maintain an accurate sound velocity profile. During watch, I have also been studying the installation, maintenance, and acoustic theory behind the Kongsberg EM122 echo sounder system and creating a short training document using what I’ve learned. The marine technician role encompasses diverse responsibilities, meaning that one might benefit more from a good understanding of many instruments than a specialized understanding of a few of them. However, it is certainly valuable and inevitable for a marine tech to expand upon their understanding of such instruments as they go. As I have learned more about acoustic theory and the components that make up the EM122 multibeam, I have found myself in a much better position to effectively operate this system as a tech and I’m sure the same will hold true as I move on to studying other systems in-depth. As the lead marine tech aboard the R/V Neil Armstrong has repeatedly pointed out to us, a big part of being a tech is knowing how to locate reliable resources and teach yourself more about the systems you find yourself responsible for.
While studying your systems is a necessary and important skill as a tech, it is also valuable to expand upon the diverse niche skills that come in handy as a tech or general member of the crew. Although there hasn’t been a lot of hands-on work to be done this cruise, I got to improve multiple such skills this week. During one of our XBT casts, we experienced an issue in which the probe was sensing that it had been “launched” prior to actual launching. We decided to switch to our back-up gun, however the cable on this gun was too short to run the length of the fantail and had the wrong termination. To fix this, fellow MATE intern Ella and I spent part of the day soldering in a new section of cable and new 5-pin termination, as well as then waterproofing each joint. In one short project we were able to expand our troubleshooting and soldering skills, as well as our understanding of the XBT’s internal mechanics and cabling.
Later in the week, I learned more about magnetometer software troubleshooting when a minor issue arose, as well as practiced suturing wounds and putting in an IV with the Chief Mate using training skin and a dummy arm. Best of all, having done a lot of MIG welding in the past, I had the chance to practice stick welding with one of the Oilers. Stick welding was a different beast from MIG entirely, especially on a moving ship, but it felt great to pick up on a new welding technique! As always, I’m looking forward to seeing what next week will have in store!