News
Ship Time Request System
The UNOLS
Organization finalized the Ship Time Request System in 2006-07,
renewing the process for scientists to request specific research
facilities and instrumentation. It has smoothed the Ship Scheduling
process for vessel operators, funding agencies and users. Click
here to access the STR System. http://unolsweb.cms.udel.edu/strs/Public/diu_login.aspx.
Explorer of the Seas Automation Project
The University of
Miami has worked with the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas
cruise liner since October 2000. With changes in science funding, a
new type of instrumentation has been integrated in order to
continually monitor the ocean on this ship of opportunity. With a
weekly ocean track for travelers that varies between an eastern and
western Caribbean vacation on a bi-weekly basis, the opportunity to
monitor Sea Surface Temperature and Salinity, chlorophyll, and
other chemical properties of ocean water on a continual, annual
scale is immeasurable.
The Marine
Technology Group has been working along with Dr. Peter Ortner,
Physical Oceanographer at RSMAS to finalize the plans for
installation of a virtual computer system, new state-of-the-art
instrumentation and a flow-through system which collects seawater
while the cruise vessel is underway. A complete new programming
suite will accompany the physical components, which will require
minimal maintenance.
R/V F.G. Walton Smith returns from longest
time away from home
The R/V F.G. Walton-Smith
has just experienced a bit of a homecoming party. Its
record-breaking expedition since her commissioning in February
2000, has surpassed all others in both duration and distance. For
about one week during this science mission, the crew threw her
lines just across the bay from Ellis Island, a rare sight for her
caretakers. Pictures of the grand Statue of Liberty are atypical
from the decks of the research vessel, which mostly operates in the
shallow Florida Bay and Keys, the Florida Straits, coastal areas of
the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas.
New Marine Superintendants at both
FAU/Harbor Branch and University of Miami/RSMAS
The Marine
Technology Group is under new upper-level management. Both
institutions served by the Group have recently had changes to the
Directors of Marine Operations. The University of Miami’s new
Director is Capt. Rob Chadwell who manages the operations of the
R/V F.G. Walton-Smith. Capt. Rob’s resume includes support of the
University of Alaska’s Research Vessel operations.
Many changes have
occurred at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in the past
year. Not only was Harbor Branch acquired by Florida Atlantic
University in January of 2008, but the institution boasts a new
Director of Technical Operations. William Baxley arrives to the
campus with his expertise from U.S. Naval Operations. His newly
designed position oversees both the former departments of Marine
Operations and Ocean Engineering. These departments have been
combined along with others forming the new “Center of Ocean
Exploration”. Mr. Baxley has also headlined a research expedition
or two himself with science funding from the Office of Naval
Research.
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