Category: Vessel/Laboratory Page 37 of 89

Following a weekend full of exploring the mangroves in a kayak looking for fish and alligators and cracking coconuts on the back deck, we have an ant infestation which we adamantly were pulling up the wood planks on the back deck to find where they were coming from. We discovered a few possible places of entry in the tonnage bulkhead that held the main doorway, that was sealed with 5200 marine adhesive. Upon pulling up the metal from the steps on the interior of the doorway, we discovered the wood was dryrotted and needed to be replaced. I appreciate the great value in how a small problem like ants can lead us down a rabbit hole that discovers a project of a potentially bigger problem such as safety. 

We are still waiting on the arrival of the engines (one of them has shipped) and therefore are continuing working on small projects around the boat, wherever we can be the most help. We got some training on using some more scanners and troubleshooting wires, tracing them throughout the ship, making sure that they were transporting information at the rate they were certified for, and how long they were. Then, we were asked to take out a box that contained all of the electriconic components for the old Dynamic Positioning (DP) system located under the bridge. The system had troubles as the bow thrusters are severely underpowered for the system and size of the boat. Therefore, the box has been sitting there unused and depowered for a long time and the F.G. Walton Smith kept getting hit with not taking it out in their NSF inspections. There is a lot that can be learned from taking things apart like this as each electrical component is attached differently and the connections have to be traced out. It is almost as methodological to remove electrical equipment like this as it is to install it, I feel like. Here is a picture of the box and me in the tight space underneath the wheelhouse control console. 

We have also started projects to to take out some of the old A/C systems left and reinstall some newer (but not marine-grade) A/C systems that are a little more compact and simpler. The new ones we are installing are the same ones we cleaned a couple weeks ago and will update one of the scientist berthings, the dry storage, and the wet lab units. Here is a picture of the old A/C unit removed and a selfie of me on the back deck with it about to throw it away! This was in my room and after seeing the grimy, slimy, thing uncovered I was a bit repulsed! Glad we’re changing it out!

This week was a doozy and very eventful to say the least. To sum this week up in one sentence: this week was poop, poop, poop, almost (basically) poop, and almost (basically) poop. As I put in my last blog post on Monday, we took apart the pump for the black water tank (poop). We took the diaphragm off, attached the new diaphragm to the connecting rod and placed silicone around it as per manuals instructions. Overnight the silicone dried and Tuesday morning it was time to reattach the diaphragm and get the head system back up and running. This was a tedious job because we had to ensure the diaphragm was seated properly and did not unseat as we were tightening the bolts. IN the process we also replaced 4 duck bills, 2 before and 2 after the pump. Duck bills are a check valve that are an effective way to stop reverse flow within the system. By the time we finished it was lunch and we were told we could take the rest of the day off as we were closely dealing with poop for far too long.

Wednesday morning, we had a pre-vibrations analysis test performed to measure the vibrations that are given off be the engine when we are full speed ahead. These measurements will them be compared the to the measurements taken after the new engines are installed. This is all measured to ensure the ship can maintain its structural integrity with the new engine. While underway the captain tasked Kyle and I to measure the length of the docking lines because it is not a job that can done while dockside. Later that day after arriving at the dock and tying up, we had to remove the life rafts that way they can be sent out and recertified. To finish the day, we removed ceiling tiles from the mess area to find a path to run Cat 6 wire for a new camera on the starboard side. This is where the third day of poop came into effect. Upon removing a bulkhead to take a ceiling piece off, rodent poop came down too. This delay the task a little bit because it was another mess that we had to clean up. After cleaning up the mess we stopped for the day.

Thursday we were able to run the Cat 6 wire from the tach space up into the dry lab, into the mess then through the ceiling. After this job was completed, we helped the chief engineer put a new check valve into the preexisting hot water pipes. While this job happened, we came to the conclusion that the other hot water heater is not properly working. We had to shut the water off the heater that was having a new check valve added leaving only one heater supplying water, which ended up only being lukewarm, were thinking the heating element might have short. That will end up being another job later in the future. Sone once the check valve was placed, we moved onto the next job, gaining access to the electrical outlet behind the commercial refrigerator. We wanted to be able to plug in an electrical cord to it and run that cord to the toaster that way it is off a different breaker as the microwave and coffee maker because the breaker would always be tripped. In the process of raising the pallet jack to raise the refrigerator, one of the forks caught on a piece of piping that would be used for an ice maker. So, that piece snapped off and water started gushing towards us from under the fridge. The water was quickly shut off by the engineer who managed to hurdle 2 trashcans to get down to the shutoff valve. We dewatered the area and then cut a larger hole in the wall around where the pipe was to be able to cap the existing pipe. After we finished with the pump, we brought it down to the laundry area where the grey water tank (almost poop) overfilled and came out onto the floor and drained into the bilge, creating a nasty smell that rang throughout the boat. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time left in the day to pump the grey water, so it was done the next morning, along with cleaning behind the fridge and placing it back. While pumping the grey water out, the pump got clogged. We were able to take apart the pump, remove the clog, and put it back together. I thought this was a really good learning experience as it was a simple pump to learn from. That was the end to a very chaotic work week.

For the weekend Kyle and I were dedicated to our project that started when we cracked open a coconut. After trying the meat inside and realizing that it was so much better than store bought shredded coconut, we decide to collect 7 more and crack those open as well. We saved the coconut water and puled all the meat from the shell. At this point we were already dedicated on making a coconut cream pie and it would be worth it for the 2-3 hours of work that we already did. We made the coconut milk that is used in it by adding the coconut meat to a blender with the coconut water. The pulp that was formed was pressed and the resulting liquid is coconut milk. If allowed to settle and separate, coconut water would be on the bottom and coconut cream would be on top. Once we got all the ingredients needed to make the pie, I started it and let is chill in the fridge overnight. The coconut cream pie was consumed the next day, as we spent it relaxing by the water.

The process of dewatering the gallery area. Refrigerator is to the left outside of this photo. (Photo creds. Kyle Hebert)

The first coconut that we got inspiration from after trying the meat. And yes, we used a fire axe to crack them open.

Separating the shredded coconut meat from the coconut milk. I was there with a fine strainer pressing all the liquid out. (Photo creds. Kyle Hebert)

On the left, blended coconut meat, once dried it can be put into the food processor to make it finer and is then considered coconut flour. I think coconut chocolate chip cookies are next on the list to make. On the right is the coconut milk and if you look closely the water is separating from the cream. The clearer liquid on the bottom is the coconut water.

The final result of the coconut cream pie. It came out delicious!

I am really enjoying the work environment and crew onboard the F.G. Walton Smith, it is very collaborative as we brainstorm solutions on how best to do projects or how to fix problems that arise. Everyone trusts, respects, and has each other’s backs while also joking around and having laughs all day. It’s the little things. Over the weekend, we went kayaking out to an old wooden shipwreck ~2nm offshore, where we anchored up and went snorkelling, it was super fun! 

On Monday, Alesha and I attacked the Head Vacuum Pump that created suction for the head system and fed into the blackwater tank. It was a dirty job, nonetheless we suited up and took the pump apart, cleaned the duckbill valves, and replaced the torn rubber gasket that created the suction for the pump. This is a picture of us suited up in Tyvex suits, goggles, and gloves:

Tuesday morning, we finished putting the vaccuum pump back together, after the silicon had dried on the rubber seal and pump shaft. In the afternoon, we continued our project with the Marine Tech on running Cat 6 wire from the Marine Tech Lab (where the terminal port is to connect to the switch, which then can be connected to Campus Safety’s server). Eventually, we will set up two more exterior cameras that will look down the port and starboard sides. We will use our newly acquired skills to make RJ45 connections to make a terminal connection in the overhead so that we can run an exterior grade wire out of the main superstructure to an overhang on both bridgewings. The picture below are the common tools that a Marine Tech may use for testing, creating, and removing connections through wire. This includes a multimeter to test voltages, amperages, resistance, and continuities when troubleshooting electrical issues, a scanner that can determine length of wire, connections between pins, wire cutters, and crimpers. 

On Wednesday, we started up the engines at 0800 and got underway around 0930 for a quick jog down through Stiltsville as a Vibration Technical Expert ran a vibration analysis on the hull of the ship. They are testing the ship before and after the engine swap in order to make sure the hull doesn’t lose any integrity from the vibrations of the engines. We made it back around 1100, just in time for lunch. Around 1230 we helped out with some crane operations to get the two life rafts off of the O-1 Deck to send off to get recertified and checked out by the manufacturer. We continued removing bulkheads to find a pathway for our wires in the afternoon. 

On Thursday, we got our wiring figured out, had to make a few cuts in the 2x4s in the overhead and fix some of the wooden bracings in the bulkheads. We then worked with the Chief Engineer to fix the broken check valve in the hot water system. After fixing the hot water system, we attempted to move the commercial sized refrigerator to do a favor for the cook and plug in a cord leading to the toaster. As we started pallet jacking it up, we accidentally snapped an old pipe that was from an older ice-box system, and water rushed out flooding part of the kitchen. We quickly shut off the potable water (part of the system we had just been working on with the hot water heaters) and went to work dewatering with a recipriocating pump. We ended up cutting a hole in the wall to put a permanent plug on the leftover piping. 

It has been a busy but highly productive week and it is rewarding to check some projects off the list and to work with this stellar crew. I learn a lot everyday and enjoy the people I am working with. 

This week has been very unique to say the least. We started by finding out that one of the crew members aboard had contracted the COVID-19 virus. They were put into isolation onboard and there was limited crew working each day.

Over the week, Kyle and I cleaned all the AC units onboard, with a biodegradable all-purpose cleaner, to remove any mold growing within the turbines. This took a few hours to do each as we had to take off the case, filters, and condensate drain to be able to access the turbines. All of that was cleaned along with the turbine before the AC unit was put back together and ran again. This was a nice project to do as it was very repetitive for each AC and did not require any assistance from any of the crew. I was just a small project for us interns. Another job we did was cleaning out the back of the golfcart. There was junk in the back to throw away as well as tools that were organized and put away. The back was then washed along with the rubber mat too.

At one point, the Marine Operations Manager passed along a video about a future cruise (October/November ’22) about deploying moorings. This was a very interesting video to watch. These moorings were to be set along a transect from Jupiter, FL to the Bahamas to record current data about the Gulf Stream. This data would show how the currents change over time and between stations. The data would be collected with nine inverted echo sounders, one at each station and would be collected for five years.

On the tech side, I watched some YouTube videos about Linux, networking basics (switch, router, gateway, firewall, and DMZ), IP addressing, and subnetting. We learned how to crimp Cat 5 wire to a RJ45 connector along with the keystone jack. After given that knowledge Kyle and I were tasked with the job to add a keystone jack to the existing wire to the camera in the bridge and then create a patch cable (length of Cat 5 cable with RJ45 connectors on each end) to connect the camera to the existing wire. Once that was completed and the camera was connected it was finally working again. We than did the same thing to the port engine room camera wiring. Once done, we connected the bridge camera, as the engine room camera is broken, to find out it still would not work. The marine tech then showed us some of the tools he has onboard to test cable to ensure that the cable is in working condition. We used a MicroScanner Cable Verifier to troubleshoot the cable and connections. This device was able to tell us if there was a short in the wire, open or crossed wire, and the length of the wire. After scanning from different connections that the wire would transmit to, it was determined that the wire was in working conditions and this was a problem on the campus IT side. After this project, our new project was to run cat 5 cable from under the port and starboard nav light platform (to add new cameras) all the way down to the tech space to connect to the switch. In a few hours we were able to run the cable through the ceiling of one of the staterooms and onto the racetrack where it then was able to follow the other wires down to the tech space.

The last job completed with the engineer was finally replacing the rubber diaphragm to the pump for the black water. Today, 6/13, Kyle and I were able to remove the diaphragm, with guidance from the engineer on the best way to remove the connecting rod and assembly. We were able to remove the diaphragm and connecting rod and clean it and then silicone it to the new diaphragm per the manual instructions.

Over the weekend, I took it easy and relaxed one day, while getting a nice sunburn. The next day Jon invited Kyle and I along on a paddle board/kayak trip to a shipwreck on a shoal off Key Biscayne where we snorkeled the wreck. It was interesting to see as there was growth all over the ship the many fish lived in and around it. The ship sunk nearly 100 years ago and is now Florida’s seventh Underwater Archaeological Preserve. After we came back from the trip, time was spent relaxing in the water when there was word of a manatee coming our way. It passe within 6-10 feet of us. It was a great experience to see.

A freshly cleaned AC unit cleaned with PurplePower

The Microscanner Cable Verifier. It is showing that the cable it is connected to is 98 feet long, there is no crossover in the wire (all the numbers match to each other and not a different number i.e., 1&3, 2&6), and there is a connection problem with prong 8 of the other end of the cable that is connected to the wiremap adapter (not shown).

Kyle and I all suited up in our Tyvek suits getting ready to fix the head system pump. It was a gross job the included my glove ripping.