Author: Jackson Hollocker

Operations during leg 3 consisted of Habcam Operations and dredging along with troubleshooting down systems with the ship’s marine techs. 

From the technician side of things, Habcam operations are very low maintenance. My tech duties consisted of Habcam deployment and recovery, backing up data, and monitoring the ship’s sensors. Because my tech duties were very low maintenance I was able to assist the NOAA Fisheries science party with piloting the Habcam and image annotation. 

Dredging operations during this leg were very high tempo compared to leg 2. A full dredge typically takes about 1 – 1 ½ hours and we were completing 4-5 dredges per 6-hour shift This meant I was typically busy and on my feet which was great compared to Habcam operations which can be mundane (if everything goes correctly). During dredging operations, my job is to help secure and dump the dredge and then I shovel the contents of the dredge to the sorters from the science party. 

During my watch, I noticed the ship’s CTD computer was unresponsive. I went to reset the computer but the computer was not able to power up. I then removed the computer from the rack and opened it up and found no signs of damage in the power supply or motherboard. One of the ship’s marine techs used a pinout of the power supply along with a multimeter to test if the power supply was powering the motherboard. He found that no power was reaching the motherboard so I swapped the power supply with one from an identical spare computer and we still were not able to power up. Then we decided that the failure was either in the hard drive which would be bad because we had non-backed up data in there or it was in the motherboard. To test this I connected the CTD hard drive to the spare computer. The computer powered up and was able to read the CTD hard drive. Immediately after we restored function we made multiple copies of everything on the hard drive so if it failed we would have a backup. 

Other than a weather delay and some down computer systems operations for leg 3 went very well and we were able to conclude operations one day early. After dredging operations were finished we steamed to Woods Hole and offloaded the science party and all of their equipment including the Habcam. During demobilization, I helped with crane operations by tying and handling a tagline to help guide loads like the Habcam and dredges in the correct orientation for transport. I also helped detach the recovery ramps for the Habcam and dredge and along with the other MATE intern helped secure them to the deck using ratchet straps. After everything was secured we steamed back to the R/V Sharps homeport Lewes Delaware and we demobilized the science van and the dredge table along with some other equipment. 

I had an amazing experience aboard the R/V Sharp. I got to experience what life is like aboard a Research Vessel at sea for a month from playing cards during downtime with my scientist buddies to hectic dredging and demobilization operations. The crew from the marine tech to the ship’s engineers did a great job at answering my frequent questions and I am incredibly thankful to the NOAA and WHOI techs who allowed me to work with them during troubleshooting on the Habcam. I was able to learn a lot about everything from seamanship skills like tying knots and securing equipment to software troubleshooting and wire tracing to find lost signals and troubleshooting advanced marine equipment like the Habcam. I’m proud I was able to make a real contribution to this science mission.

Week three primarily consisted of dredging. My current shift is 6 hours on and 6 hours off. Depending on the dredge load it can be very physically challenging. After the load is dropped on the dredge table I shovel the contents to the sorters. Some very heavy dredge loads result in upwards of 30 minutes of shoveling. Typically on a productive day we can achieve 4-5 dredges per 6 hour shift. I have also become relatively confident with the CTD casts: during these I prep the CTD by taking off all plugs and caps from the pumps and sensors communicate with the science watch chief so I know the station number and cast number then I communicate with the engineer with the bottom depth and I watch the sensors and make sure they are functioning as expected. When the CTD reaches the bottom water bottles are popped that collect a water sample and we recover the CTD. We then secure it in the ship and flush the system and hose it with freshwater. 

On the steam back to port the WHOI technation discovered that a connection to the Habcams electronics bottle was damaged to the point of failure. At port the NOAA tech and I inspected the Habcams electronics bottle and blown connector. Because there were no blown fuses we came to the conclusion that the issue was caused by a short circuit within the connector caused by a water intrusion or insulation breakdown. He also taught me to look for signs of arc damage within a connector which can indicate a breakdown in the insulation. After the problem was diagnosed I assisted the NOAA team with reconnecting the electronics bottle and testing system power. 

Overall I had a great time and learned a lot this week. I got experience troubleshooting the R/V sharps computer systems and helped fix an issue with a gyro signal transmission with my mentor and I got time with the NOAA team troubleshooting the Habcams electronics system. The dredge work was very rewarding and fun. I am also excited about all of the contacts I have made. I have met some awesome people from NOAA and WHOI who I hope will be great future references. 

Leg 2 Operations will consist of dredging and habcam operations. I have been trained by my mentor for this leg on how to safely bring the dredge on deck, attach it to the dredge table, and empty the bag. This involves three people: the engineer, the other tech and myself. After the dredge is secured, the other tech and I shovel the contents of the dredge to the sorters from the science party at the edges of the table. Habcam operations are the same as the first leg. 

On the technical side I have been assisting the WHOI and NOAA technations with troubleshooting on the habcam. After the end of leg one the malfunctioning sidescaning sonar was taken from the habcam to be troubleshooted. The WHOI technation and I opened the electronics bottle and began troubleshooting using the schematic. we found that the computer would recognize that there was an ethernet signal but the sonar software would crash when we attempted to communicate. This made us think the issue was either in the software itself or the wiring for communications from the sonar. Unfortunately, there were multiple sources for the proper wiring of the communications block and they contradicted each other and none of them worked. After switching the communications cables every possible way we were not able to get a signal. Later it was found the software we were using was incompatible with the model of sidescan. 

I have also been assisting with other ship operations like lowering the transducer keel after we leave port. This involves closing and opening valves and then hand signaling the engineer operating the crane to move it in place and attaching the hook to the crane and moving the keel into place.

Overall I am doing well and working hard to assist the crew as much as possible. I am really enjoying dredging operations because they keep me physically active and engaged. Although I do not want more equipment to fail I have enjoyed learning from the NOAA and WHOI techs and I am excited for future opportunities to work with them. 

This week The other MATE intern and I were introduced to the R/V Sharp and our mentor. Our mission is to support a NOAA fisheries science team in a scallop survey. Christian the R/V sharps technician has spent this week introducing us to the onboard computer system and how collected data is managed and backed up. This week consisted of primarily habcam operations and has been very light work on the technical side of things. I therefore have been spending most of my time supporting the NOAA team by piloting the habcam winch and annotating images of the sea floor by marking scallops. Overall the workload has been relatively light I am very excited for the dredging during the second leg of the cruise.

I am Jackson Hollocker and tomorrow I will be flying to Delaware to board the R/V Sharp to help support a Scallop Survey with an NOAA Fisheries Science Party. I have just finished my junior year at Northwestern Michigan College and I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Marine Technology. 

This will be my first time offshore for an extended period of time. My current boating experience is only day trips aboard my school’s research vessel the 56-foot R/V Northwestern. My Marine Technology experience includes working with the deployment of ROVs and multiple sonar systems both from shore and the R/V Northwestern. Working on the Hab-Cam and the Scallop Dredge will be very new to me. I have a lot to learn and I am extremely excited to board the R/V Sharp and meet the equipment and crew I will be working with. 

Attached is an image of me learning about troubleshooting procedures for the Falcon ROV.