Jacquelyn Hams

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jacquelyn Hams
Onboard NOAA Ship Rainier
July 24 – August 11, 2006

Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographical Area: Shumagin Islands, Alaska
Date: July 24, 2006

Science and Technology Log

The RAINIER will depart today at 1600 for the Shumagin Islands. This morning all visitors and new personnel onboard were given a safety orientation by Kenneth Keys, Deck Utilityman. I decide to put on my sea sick patch after breakfast just in case the seas get rough.

One of the most important orders of business for the day was to receive Survival Suits and Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) from Ken. In addition, Ken issued hard hats and life jackets. I must admit, the idea of having to wear a Survival Suit was sobering. The suit was so tight that I could barely breathe. But, as Ken pointed out, the idea was to stay alive and not swallow salt water. Visitors and new personnel were also required to view the videocassettes listed below:

“Right to Know” – about hazardous waste materials and proper handling
“Asbestos Awareness” – about the proper handling and identification of asbestos
“OCENCO EEBD” – Emergency Escape Breathing Devices used aboard the RAINIER.

TAS Jacquelyn Hams in full survival suit

At 1300, the TAS met with the Surveying Department to go over surveying techniques and a schedule for this leg. Surveying crew members recommended that I read “Coast Pilot #9, part of a NOAA reference for sailors. Part of the NOAA mission is to update the Coast Pilot book series to maintain accuracy. At 1600 the RAINIER departed Kodiak Island.

1600 Readings Weather Data
Weather: CL (cloudy) F (fog)
Barometer: 992 mB
Visibility: 4 nm (nautical miles)
Wind: Light
Sea Wave height: 8.9 ft
Temperature in degrees C: 12.8
Wet Bulb T: 11.7 degrees C
Dry Bulb T: 12.8 degrees C
Speed: AIRS on departure
Speed at 1700: 4 knots

The RAINIER’s course allowed me to see more spectacular scenery and the marine wildlife was abundant. We saw lots of otters and whales. When I retired for bed, the RAINIER was cruising in Kupreanof Strait. This has been a special day and the seas have been a lot calmer than anticipated.

Personal Log

The crewmembers of the RAINIER are very interesting and come from a variety of backgrounds. Many of them are on second and third careers and have interesting stories to tell. I am particularly struck by how young the officers look! This is a sure sign that I am getting old.

TAS Jacquelyn Hams attempting to remove survival suit

Megan McGovern, NOAA Ship Gary Streeter, RAINIER

Gary Streeter, RAINIER Engineering Technician examines the laptop for TAS Jacquelyn Hams

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jacquelyn Hams
Onboard NOAA Ship Rainier
July 10, 2006

Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographical Area: Kodiak, Alaska
Date: July 9, 2006

Pre-Cruise Log

My NOAA Teacher at Sea adventure began with a long flight to Anchorage from Los Angeles International Airport. From Anchorage I caught a prop plane to Kodiak, which is an hour flight. Weather began to move in as we traveled to Kodiak, but I could see a few of the Aleutian Islands below. The landing made me a bit anxious; since it appears that you are landing on the water. The discomfort was worth enduring to observe the dramatic and beautiful scenery I saw as I landed. The plane flew over Cook Inlet which has enormous tidal flats. The tidal range in the inlet is over 30 feet per day. ENS Jamie Wasser, NOAA Ship RAINIER’s Junior Officer, met me at the airport in Kodiak and escorted me to the ship. Everyone thought I was so important since I was being met by an officer in uniform.

The RAINIER is docked at the U.S. Coast Guard Facility in Kodiak which is reported to be the largest in the United States. I take advantage of the great photo opportunity driving to the RAINIER dock. Once aboard the RAINIER, I met Olivia Hauser, Junior Officer, and my roommate for the cruise. Olivia is very nice and extremely outgoing. Olivia gives me a tour of the ship, and I get settled in. Olivia invites me to go eat Sushi and see “Pirates of the Caribbean 2” with some of the crew who are enjoying the last day of leave. The crew has just finished a leg and has a couple of days off before July 24, when we depart for the Shumagin Islands. We leave at 5:00 in a van to go to the Sushi restaurant and eat, but there are 10 people and it takes a long time so we scrap plans to go to the 7:00 p.m. movie. I return to the room, check on my online class, and get ready for bed. The scenery in Kodiak is dramatic and full of geology. One hillside composed of exposed volcanic rock is located near the dock.

View of a passage (hallway) aboard the RAINIER. My stateroom is on the right

This is my stateroom. My bunk is on the bottom.

Volcanic rocks on hillside in Kodiak, AK

Another view of the volcanic rocks in Kodiak

Author: Jacquelyn Hams

Jacquelyn Hams, July 24, 2006

Jacquelyn Hams, July 9, 2006