Arctic West Summer 2008

Tnthomas1

Description

VPR. 71. E. Dutch Harbor, AK – Juneau, AK (7 May – 12 May) - NSTR ...... course ran along the main street of Juneau and past the ferry docks. ...... postdoc. 07/17/08. 07/31/08. David Shull. Western Washington University. PI ... Virginia Engel ...

Informations

• Publié par: paul.vallen
• Nombre de lectures: 29
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Arctic

West Summer 2008

USCGC HEALY (WAGB-20) 06 Mar – 15 Oct 2008 Cruise Report

Front Cover: HEALY conducts joint operations in the Arctic with Canadian Coast Guard ShipLouis S. St. Laurent.

Commanding Officer USCGC HEALY (WAGB-20)

MEMORANDUM From: F. J. Sommer, CAPT USCGC HEALY (WAGB-20)

To:

CG PACAREA (Pre)

1519 Alaskan Way South Seattle, WA 98134 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] 02 Feb 2009

Subj: ARCTIC WEST SUMMER 2008 CRUISE REPORT Ref: (a)Polar Icebreaker Cruise Reports, COMDTINST 16155.2B 1.This report is submitted in accordance with reference (a) and covers the period from 06 March 2008 to 15 October 2008.

2.HEALY completed six missions to support Arctic research during the Arctic West Summer 2008 (AWS-08) deployment. The first, second, and third missions, HLY08-01, HLY08-02, and HLY08-03, were conducted in support of the Bering Ecosystem Study, or BEST. This was a study continued from AWS-07 that researched of the effect of climate driven changes on benthic predators in the Northern Bering Sea. HEALY visited over 100 stations between 14 March and 03 May between St. Matthew Island and St. Lawrence Island. The embarked civilian helicopter provided ice reconnaissance, assisted scientists in conducting marine mammal (walrus) and spectacled eiders surveys, and enabled passenger transfers to and from nearby island communities. The third mission of the 2008 deployment, HLY08-03, specifically focused on the summer conditions of the eastern shelf region, ice distribution, and its effects on the ecosystem. This study covered the entire shelf from the Aleutian Islands to St. Lawrence Island. The fourth, fifth, and sixth missions were all in the Arctic, with science parties staging out of Barrow, AK. HLY08-04 heavily focused on the deployment of hydrographic moorings. During HLY08-05, HEALY used the multi-beam sonar and the Knudson sub-bottom profiler to map the 2,500 meter curve of the sea floor in support of extended continental shelf submission under the Convention of the Law of the Sea. The sixth and final mission for AWS 08, HLY-08-06, was a joint operation with the Canadian Coast Guard to collect data in support of delineation of the U.S. and Canadian Extended Continental shelves. HEALY created an ice free channel for the Canadian vessel, Louis S. St. Laurent, to follow while using their multi channel seismic equipment. Following port calls in Kodiak, AK and Ketchikan, AK and a cruise through the scenic Inside th Passage, HEALY returned to ISC Seattle on October 15 .

3.In addition to her assigned scientific missions, HEALY had a Change of Command on June 13, 2008. CAPT T. R. Lindstrom was relieved by CAPT F. J. Sommer.

4.During HLY-08-04 HEALY hosted the Commandant of the Coast Guard, ADM T. Allen and Secretary of Homeland Security, M. Cherthoff.

5.During Arctic West Summer 2008, HEALY transited more than 15,000 nm, providing 157 days of scientific support. All six missions met or exceeded pre-determined research goals, and in many cases yielded significantly more data than scientists had hoped for. With each Arctic

Subj: ARCTIC WEST SUMMER 2008 CRUISE REPORT 16155  02 Feb 2009 deployment, HEALY continues to demonstrate her capabilities as the nation’s premier polar scientific platform.

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HEALY Trackline 2008

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USCGC Healy 2008

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Dutch Harbor

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Kodiak

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HLY0801 HLY0802 HLY0803 HLY0804 HLY0805 HLY0806 Transits

Seattle

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Tue Nov 18 19:49 MST 2008 Compiled by Steve Roberts, NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory

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Table of Contents I. Ship Operations ........................................................................................................ 7 A. Chronological Events ............................................................................................... 7 B. Vessel Operations..................................................................................................... 9 II. Deck Operations ..................................................................................................... 19 III. Air Operations ........................................................................................................ 23 IV. Navigation Operations............................................................................................ 26 V. Communications..................................................................................................... 35 VI. Science.................................................................................................................... 38 VII. Engineering ............................................................................................................ 54 VIII. Administration........................................................................................................ 78 IX. Morale .................................................................................................................... 81 X. Supply/Logistics ..................................................................................................... 86 XI. Ship Store ............................................................................................................... 94 XI. Medical .................................................................................................................. 95 XII. Public Relations...................................................................................................... 96 XIII. Personnel Embarked............................................................................................. 101 List of Tables Table 1. Arctic West Summer 2008 (AWS ‘08) Schedule ......................................... 10 Table 2. Small Boat Sortie Log................................................................................... 21 Table 3. Number and type of science gear deployments HLY-08-01 ........................ 43 Table 4. Number and type of science gear deployments HLY-08-02 ....................... 46 Table 5. Number and type of science gear deployments HLY-08-03 ....................... 49 Table 6. Number and type of science gear deployments HLY-08-04 ....................... 50 Table 7. Number and type of science gear deployments HLY-08-05 ....................... 51 Table 8. Number and type of science gear deployments HLY-08-06 ....................... 52 Table 9. Summary of fuel onloads and total consumption for AWS ‘08.................... 76 List of Appendices Appendix 1. CGC HEALY Deployment Schedule for 2008 Appendix 2. Graphical Schedule Appendix 3. CONOPs, OPORDs, and DEPSUMs Appendix 4. Shakedown Schedule AWS ‘08 Appendix 5. Barrow Services Summary Appendix 6. Waiver Requests and Authorizations Appendix 7. CASREPs Appendix 8. Fuel Summary Appendix 9. Track History Appendix 10. Additional Personnel Embarked

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I.Ship Operations A.Chronological Events Departed Seattle Pier 36 Navigated Seymour Narrows Entered Gulf of Alaska at Dixon Entrance Navigated Illiasik Passage Entered the Bering Sea at Unimak Pass Moored Dutch Harbor UMC pier Departed Dutch Harbor Moored Dutch Harbor UMC pier Departed Dutch Harbor Conducted passenger transfers at St. Paul Island Moored Dutch Harbor UMC pier Departed Dutch Harbor Entered Gulf of Alaska at Akutan Pass Entered Southeast Alaska at Cross Sound Moored Juneau Station Juneau Departed Juneau Navigated Tracy Arm Navigated Snow Passage Navigated Boat Bluff Navigated Seymour Narrows Moored Seattle Pier 36 Departed Seattle Moored Manchester fuel pier Departed Manchester Entered North Pacific Ocean at Cape Flattery Entered Bering Sea at Unimak Pass Moored Dutch Harbor UMC pier Departed Dutch Harbor Conducted passenger transfers at St. Paul Island Conducted community outreach at St. George Island Conducted passenger transfers at St. Paul Island Moored Dutch Harbor UMC pier Departed Dutch Harbor Entered Arctic Ocean at Bering Strait Crossed Arctic Circle at 168º 06’ North Conducted passenger and cargo transfers at Barrow Visited by Commandant of the Coast Guard and Secretary of Homeland Security Conducted passenger and cargo transfers at Barrow Reached 83º 07’ North at 159º 22’ West Conducted passenger and cargo transfers at Barrow

06 Mar 08 07 Mar 08 08 Mar 08 12 Mar 08 12 Mar 08 13 Mar 08 13 Mar 08 26 Mar 08 29 Mar 08 20 Apr 08 06 May 08 07 May 08 07 May 08 11 May 08 11 May 08 13 May 08 13 May 08 14 May 08 15 May 08 16 May 08 17 May 08 25 Jun 08 25 Jun 08 25 Jun 08 26 Jun 08 02 Jul 08 02 Jul 08 03 Jul 08 17 Jul 08 17 Jul 08 19 Jul 08 31 Jul 08 03 Aug 08 05 Aug 08 06 Aug 08 07 Aug 08 07 Aug 08 13 Aug 08 26 Aug 08 05 Sep 08

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09 Sep 08

28 Sep 08 01 Oct 08 02 Oct 08 03 Oct 08 05 Oct 08 05 Oct 08 07 Oct 08 08 Oct 08 10 Oct 08 11 Oct 08 13 Oct 08 14 Oct 08 15 Oct 08

Rendezvoused with CCGS LOUIS S. ST LAURENT at 81º 47’ North 142º 07’ West Departed company at 76º 33’ North 134º 53’ West Conducted passenger and cargo transfers at Barrow Crossed Arctic Circle at 168º 06’ West Entered Bering Sea at Bering Strait Entered Gulf of Alaska at Unimak Pass Navigated Illiasik Passage Moored Kodiak City Pier 2 Departed Kodiak Entered Southeast Alaska at Dixon Entrance Moored Ketchikan Wharf 2 Departed Ketchikan Navigated Seymour Narrows Moored Seattle Pier 36

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B.Vessel Operations The first notional schedule for the 2008 deployment was developed at the end of September. This schedule followed a Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (BSIERP) and Bering Ecosystem Study (BEST) meeting in Seattle that developed the scope of science funded by the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). This meeting solidified the request of ship time in the Spring and early Summer. The remainder of the schedule was an undetermined mix of speculative work that had yet to be funded by National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) efforts and a small Office of Naval Research (ONR) mooring program. The USGS work soon solidified in November after a meeting with the Canadian Coast Guard in Seattle aboard HEALY. The largest issue in completing the 2008 deployment schedule was determining the logistics of four back-to-back Arctic missions. Managing fuel and food were of primary concern. Research of past cruise reports and queries to former HEALY crew members led to a decision not to fuel by barge off Barrow, AK. A limit of 66 days continuous between fueling with an additional restriction of 1% per day average over duration of each mission on fuel consumption was set. An effort, which subsequently worked well, to receive food via C-130 delivery to Barrow and to the cutter by helicopter was planned. Other issues in determining the deployment schedule included managing an even earlier start of science in the Bering for the BEST program, limiting the total number of days away from home port, deciding where and how many days were spent at port calls away from home port, and negotiating how many in port science days were needed by the longer BEST missions. By mid-March, the fifteenth and final draft schedule was produced. The contents of that schedule are contained in Table 1. Only minor deviations, including mid-Summer fueling dates and port calls returning to home port at the end of the season due to the HLY-08-07 cancellation, occurred after March. A more detailed description of the schedule is provided in Appendix 1. A graphical briefing of the schedule is provided in Appendix 2.

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Table 1.Arctic West Summer 2008 (AWS ‘08) Schedule 06 Mar Departed Seattle en route Dutch Harbor 13 Mar – 26 Mar 14-day ‘Early’ Spring BEST (Cooper) 28 Mar – 06 May 41-day Spring BEST (Ashjian) 11 May - 12 May Juneau port call 17 May – 24 Jun Seattle maintenance period 25 Jun Departed Seattle en route Dutch Harbor 02 Jul – 31 Jul 30-day Summer BEST 03 Aug Departed Dutch Harbor en route Barrow 07 Aug – 13 Aug 7-day Hydrographic and acoustic moorings (Pickart) 14 Aug – 05 Sep 23-day NOAA ECS mapping (Mayer) 06 Sep – 01 Oct 26-day USGS ECS mapping (Childs) 02 Oct – 03 Oct Hydrographic sampling (Pickart) (-) 08 Oct Kodiak port call (+) 11 Oct Ketchikan port call (+) (-) – mission cancelled in early September (+) – added port calls Concept of operations (CONOP), operations orders (OPORD), and deployment summaries (DEPSUM) are contained in Appendix 3. Note that there was no OPORD for the spring deployment. Shakedown and Aviation STAN Visit, 1-15 February th st The annual winter dockside availability ended on January 18 . From February 1 th through the 15 HEALY performed its annual shakedown following the winter maintenance availability. The shakedown schedule is contained in Appendix 4. As standard, vendor work acceptance trials were performed, grooms were conducted on various systems, and emergency drills were conducted. Two stops at Port Angeles were performed to transfer passengers. Fuel, from a moored barge, was taken aboard at Manchester. Helicopter training was performed with an Air Station Port Angeles HH-65. In addition, sea surface measurements using a floating thermistor (aka Sea Snake) were taken throughout the trip and near a calibrated reference station in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Due to an equipment casualty, not all of the winches were tested until the transit for the first science mission. Transit from Seattle to Dutch Harbor, 6 March – 13 March th The transit from Seattle to Dutch Harbor began in the afternoon of March 6 . Just after departing Seattle, HEALY conducted post-repair testing of the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) between Edmonds and Mukilteo for several hours, followed by boat operations to put a vendor representative ashore at Edmonds. In order to avoid hazardous weather offshore, HEALY proceeded via the Inside Passage to Dixon Entrance. In Dixon Entrance, HEALY conducted a final inspection of the CTD

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and rosette. While en route Kodiak Island, HEALY encountered a severe storm with winds greater than 64 knots. One life ring was lost overboard during the transit, which was later found and subsequently made its way to a marine hardware store in Yakutat, Alaska. HEALY had planned to conduct flight training with an Air Station Kodiak HH-60 on March 10th, but the event was cancelled due to pilot illness. Part of the training was later th conducted on March 12 . HEALY completed its transit to Dutch Harbor via a route along the Alaskan Peninsula. HLY-08-01 14-day ‘Early’ Spring BEST (Cooper), 13 March – 26 March The early Spring BEST mission began mobilizing upon HEALY’s arrival in Dutch th Harbor the morning of March 13 . The arrival was scheduled for 0900, approximately 40 minutes before sunrise. In hindsight, the first approach to Dutch Harbor should be made after sunrise to reduce inherent risks from crew rotation. The departure was scheduled for the same day at 1600; however, due to delays in work needed for the cutter, the departure occurred several hours later. The following description provided by the Arctic Icebreaker Coordinating Committee (AICC) summarized the efforts for HEALY’sfirst three missions: The overall goals of the NSF Funded BEST (Bering Ecosystem Study) cruises are to understand the impact of the on-going decrease in seasonal sea ice on the eastern Bering Sea marine ecosystem and how this environmental change might affect subsistence and commercial opportunities in the Bering Sea and local communities. The NSF and the North Pacific Research Board have partnered to support a comprehensive investigation of the Bering Sea ecosystem during 2007-2012. The NSF funded BEST cruises on HEALY will primarily study the nutrients, plankton, and benthos which support upper trophic level animals including fish, whales, birds, walrus, and seals. The specific areas of interest for the early Spring BEST mission were: •Benthic sampling with cores, grabs, and a camera; •Walrus abundance and tracking with use of a helicopter; •Ice biota studies; •Plankton sampling with nets; •Water column chemistry from bottles, and; •Spectacled Eider surveys. Cold temperatures throughout this mission significantly affected science operations. Cold temperatures caused problems with ice accumulation on deck both fore and aft, by freezing seawater in hoses supplying deck and incubator water, and increased exposure

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