R/V Neil Armstrong
From the fantail

To Do

Posted by Ken Kostel 
· Saturday, October 31st, 2015 

[NOTE: This post was written Friday and posted Saturday]

_N807341

Armstrong at Curtis Wharf in Anacortes with one day until sailing. (Photo by Ken Kostel, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

One day until we sail and there is still a lot to do, from the technical to the mundane. Technicians with the Shipboard Scientific Services Group are still running cable and setting up the science work areas. The docking collar on the crane that handles the CTD rosette has to be attached. The ship needs to be ballasted. And the trash has to be taken out.

It’s a long list, but not insurmountable and, one way or another, we’re leaving. Barring any major problems, at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Saturday, we will cast off and Armstrong will begin its trip home to Woods Hole. This will undoubtedly be a late night and an early morning, but this crew, which came almost entirely from R/V Knorr, has a reputation for getting things done. They take pride in that fact and those of us who do not have official duties take solace in it.

_N807329

Assembling chairs, because someone has to. (Photo by Ken Kostel, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

There is no science planned between here and the first shipyard period where Armstrong will receive the bulk of its scientific gear, so most of the urgency is at least partly driven by a sailor’s desire to see things are put right before setting sail. For that reason, one of the most important things to happen before we leave will be to make sure that anything moveable is tied down. That task becomes even more critical whenever we look at the printout of the marine forecast that’s posted on the wall outside the ship’s library. It’s not looking good. No one is worried, but no one has ridden Armstrong out of the channel yet, so we don’t know how it will ride.

And there’s only one way to find out.

About R/V Armstrong

RV-neilarmstrong

The research vessel Neil Armstrong is named for the American hero whose “one small step” provided humanity with a new perspective on our planet and is operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Read more »

Recent Posts

  • Step Lively
  • New Year with a New Ship
  • Home Again: My Transit Aboard R/V Neil Armstrong, September 2016
  • More Firsts—and a Second
  • Wrapping Up

Funding

Funding for R/V Neil Armstrong comes from the Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation, and the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration.

Subscribe by Email

Completely spam free, opt out any time.

Email address
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution logoWHOI is the world's leading non-profit oceanographic research organization. Our mission is to explore and understand the ocean and to educate scientists, students, decision-makers, and the public.
R/V Neil Armstrong
Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved
Privacy Policy.
Problems or questions about the site, please contact webapp-support@whoi.edu