Hello,
It’s been hectic and chaotic since I last posted on the blog. I have been learning an incredible amount about what it takes to be a Marine Technician, what it takes to work on a boat, and what it takes to be a part of a small crew.
The cruise that was supposed to happen last week was pushed back to August. This was due to an engine problem and scheduling issues. The chaos and variability during this internship have shown me the importance of always being prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Adapting
The way my incredible mentors have taught and refined my approach to adaptability remains a key skill gained during this experience. Being adaptable is one of the most crucial skills needed to be a Marine Tech, and my mentors and I have had to use this skill set countless times.
During the prep for last week’s cruise, we received schematics for an EK80 single-beam system and assembled a mount based on them. We received the sonar on mobilization day. Not only was the schematic we received wrong, but the sonar already came with a mount.
Conveniently, after a little trial and error, the sonar mount perfectly fit the empty rosette. This empty rosette was originally going to house the EK80 system. Unfortunately, the empty rosette could not be used due to the stern winch not working. Thus, leading us to switch to a rosette frame with a working winch, located on the starboard side. We had to troubleshoot how to attach a sonar and Wombat system to a rosette frame, with 12 Niskin bottles, a CTD, and a fluorometer. The solution was to fabricate an additional mount ourselves for the original mount, remove the last Niskin bottle, and make a couple of small changes to attach the required sonar equipment. In the end, the setup was fully functional. Unfortunately, I was too busy to take a picture of our final result.
The Upcoming Cruise
This is the pod system that the Hugh R. Sharp uses. Attached to it is another EK80 system and an ADCP. Commonly, on the Sharp, custom mounts have to be fabricated and meet the required specs. This pod required the EK80 and the ADCP to be flush.
After assembly was finished, my mentors and I spent the day rewiring and lowering the pod via a crane in the Sharp’s adjustable keel. It was a very hot and humid day, around 92 degrees, which felt like 100.
At midday, we had an electrical blackout and had to reset all of the computers. Luckily, resetting the computers did not take long. Now that the day is done, I am finishing writing this blog post.
Conclusion
I will be taking many lessons from this incredible, eye-opening week. I have learned and accomplished many new things in just this week alone. If I wrote them all down, I would have a 10,000-word essay. I am growing through real practical experience, and I cannot wait to tell you what I learned in the upcoming week of this internship.
Thanks for reading!