NOAA Teacher at Sea
Kristin Hennessy-McDonald
Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II
September 15 – 30, 2018
Mission: Shark/Red Snapper Longline Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico
Date: September 18, 2018
Weather Data from the Bridge
Latitude: 2901.62N
Longitude: 0932.87W
Sea Wave Height: 0m
Wind Speed: 6.63 knots
Wind Direction: 203֯
Visibility: 10 nautical miles
Air Temperature: 32.4
Sky: 0% cloud cover
Science and Technology Log
My first day onboard was spent following around 2nd Engineer Will Osborn. Will is an officer in the Merchant Marines, and a NOAA Augmentation Pool Engineer assigned to the Oregon II. He invited me to follow him around and learn how the engineers prepare the ship for sea. One of the duties of the engineers is to check the liquid levels of each of the tanks prior to sailing. They do this by performing soundings, where they use a weighted measuring tape and a conversion chart to determine the number of gallons in each of the tanks.
The engineering team then prepared the ship to sail by disconnecting shore power and turning on the engines aboard ship. I got to flip the switch that disconnects the ship from shore power. I followed the engineering team as they disconnected the very large cable that the ship uses to draw power from shore. I then got to follow 2nd Engineer Will as he turned on the engines aboard ship.
Once we set sail, the science team met and discussed how longline surveys would work. I am on the day shift, which is from noon to midnight. We got the rest of the day, after onboard training and group meetings, to get used to our new sleep schedule. Because I was on the day shift, I stayed up and got to watch an amazing sunset over the Gulf.
Our second day out, we set our first two longlines. The first one was set before shift change, so the night shift crew bated the hooks and set the line. My shift brought the line in, and mostly got back unbaited hooks. We got a few small Atlantic Sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) sharks on the line, and used those to go over internal and external features that differentiated the various species we might find.
After the lines were in, it was time for safety drills. These included the abandon ship drill, which required us to put on a submersion suit, which is affectionately referred to as a Gumby suit. You can see why below. It was as hard to get into as it looks, but it will keep you warm and afloat if you end up in the water after you abandon ship.
Personal Log
I have learned a few rules of the boat on my first days at sea. First, always watch your head. The stairwells sometimes have short spaces, and you have to make sure not to hit them on your way up. Second, always keep a hand free for the boat. It is imperative at sea that you always have a hand free, in case the boat rocks and you need to catch yourself. Third, mealtimes are sacred. There are 31 people aboard the boat, with seating for 12 in the galley. In order for everyone to get a chance to sit down and eat, you can’t socialize in the galley.
Did You Know?
In order for the crew to have freshwater to drink, the Oregon II uses a reverse osmosis machine. They create 1000-1200 gallons of drinkable water per day, running the ocean water through the reverse osmosis generator at a pressure of 950 psi.
Quote of the Day
And when there are enough outsiders together in one place, a mystic osmosis takes place and you’re inside.
~Stephen King
Question of the Day
How do sharks hear in the water?
I think sharks hear underwater through vibrations, but this would be slower than through air, so they supplement this with a great sense of smell. Also, why does the gumby suit have three fingers? Thanks for keeping us posted!
Actually, water conducts sound better than air, due to the fact that the liquid particles are closer together, and so less energy is lost in the transfer.
The pictures of the sunset are really pretty. Also, I think it is really cool that you got observe some sharks. Sharks can hear in water because they have tiny hairs on them that can detect vibrations from sounds.
I believe sharks use some type of special echolocation under water like bats, because i think i saw on TV before but whales do it i think so maybe sharks do it.
And is it cold outside on the water or is it hot?
It is super hot. The day shift works from noon to midnight, so we are outside at the hottest part of the day. But, it has been amazing to see the sharks!
I think sharks hear mostly underwater when splashing is being done, and a sign of when prey is near.
I Think shark hear in the water with out ears because they can fell things with their gills or vibration in the water
I love those types of sharks
Sharks have an inner ear made up of canals. Inside each canal are four sensory maculae that control both balance and sound perception. They are lined with tiny hairs that help the shark detect vibrations in the water. https://www.thewildlifemuseum.org/exhibits/sharks/can-sharks-hear/
Sharks hear through vibrations. Because I’m sure they don’t have ears, so they use vibrations through the water to catch their prey and more.