Category: Kim Wolke

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Kim Wolke, July 26, 2006

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Kim Wolke
Onboard NOAA Ship Rainier
July 23 – August 11, 2006

Mission: Hydrographic Survey of the Shumagin Islands
Geographical Area: Alaska
Date: July 26, 2006

Assistant Survey Technician Nick Gianoutsos showing off his SECOND halibut!
Assistant Survey Technician Nick Gianoutsos showing off his SECOND halibut!

Weather from the Bridge
Skies: Cloudy
Visibility:  10+ nautical miles (nm)
Wind Direction: South/southwest
Wind Speed: 10 knots
Waves: 1 foot
Sea Water Temp.: 10.7 ° C
Sea Level Pressure:  1024.0 millibars (mb)
Temp. (°C): 11.7 (air temperature)

Science and Technology Log 

Today began with clear, blue skies and calm water.  It was a very welcome change for me from the rocking and rolling we’ve been experiencing as well as the clouds and drizzly rain. Since we finished all of the survey lines that were planned for the Semedi Islands area, we are now underway to our next survey spot in the Shumagin Islands which we should reach and anchor at by this evening. We did some “biological sampling” this morning as several crewmembers cast their fishing lines off the fantail (back) of the ship.  Since the first spot wasn’t producing as expected, the ship was moved to a second notable location. Within minutes of the fishing lines being out into the water, 4 halibut and 1 Irish lord were on deck. The Irish lord was put back into the water, but the halibut were filleted on the deck.  Maybe that’ll be dinner one night!!!

An Irish lord fish…so ugly it’s cute!
An Irish lord fish…so ugly it’s cute!

Another nice surprise this morning were the sightings of whale in the distance as they blew water and swam around.  A pod of Dall’s porpoise also played again on the bow (front) of the ship for a while.  I felt like they knew I was watching them so they were showing off.

Who’s Who on the RAINIER? 

There are many roles that people have aboard the RAINIER, all of which collectively keep the ship running safely and efficiently. Steve Foye has been a member of the RAINIER crew for approximately 15 years, but has been with NOAA for over 25 years. He has worked on other NOAA ships, including the McARTHUR, the DAVIDSON, and the FAIRWEATHER. Steve’s original ship training came from his “on the job” training he received being in the Navy and from working on freighters. Prior to working with NOAA, Steve worked for Boeing in a guided missile factory.

Boatswain Group Leader Steve Foye aboard NOAA ship RAINIER
Boatswain Group Leader Steve Foye aboard NOAA ship RAINIER

Steve’s title on the RAINIER is currently Boatswain* Group Leader. He reports directly to the Chief Boatswain and has a number of deckhands onboard that report to him. The Boatswain is in charge of a ship’s anchors, lines, wires, the deck crew, the ship’s boats, the rigging of the ship, and overseeing the general maintenance of the ship. The specific tasks that Steve oversees on the RAINIER are imperative to the functioning of the ship. All of the ship’s wires need to be slushed, which means they are greased regularly to keep them from rusting. There are quite a lot of wires on the ship to hold things in place as well as to move equipment around using cranes.  All of the mechanical equipment on the deck must also be lubricated and kept in working order, including the davit winches, cranes, and anchor windless, which controls the anchor. In addition to maintaining this equipment, the Boatswain and his crew are the ones who also operate the equipment.  Steve mentioned that “chasing rust” was another important part of the ship’s upkeep.  This is where rusty areas are prepped with a wire brush to clean them. Then they’re-primed and repainted.  General maintenance of the ship is something else the Boatswain oversees, making sure that the passageways and general interior of the vessel are clean.

A crane on the bow of NOAA ship RAINIER
A crane on the bow of NOAA ship RAINIER

On the RAINIER there are 6 survey launch boats.  It is Steve’s responsibility to make sure that the boats are launched properly. This involves some safety checks ahead of time as well as the use of davits, which are machines that lower the launches into the water.  It is critical for the hydrography work that the RAINIER does to keep these boats and the equipment that maneuvers them on to and off of the ship in working order. When Steve isn’t busy training someone new to the ship or overseeing the use of a crane or davit, he enjoys taking photographs. He told me he has over 2000 pictures so far this year alone! He enjoys being away from home cruising to new places. He has maps that he marks to show the places he’s been to on all of his cruises. From talking with him, it seems that Steve enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others. He’s also a very funny man.

The anchor windless on NOAA ship RAINIER. Each chain is about 1080 feet long. The anchor itself weighs about 3500 pounds.
The anchor windless on NOAA ship RAINIER. Each chain is about 1080 feet long. The anchor itself weighs about 3500 pounds.
Davit winch, which helps to move the survey launches.
Davit winch, which helps to move the survey launches.
Boatswain Group Leader Steve Foye taking pictures.
Boatswain Group Leader Steve Foye taking pictures.
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Kim Wolke, July 25, 2006

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Kim Wolke
Onboard NOAA Ship Rainier
July 23 – August 11, 2006

Mission: Hydrographic Survey of the Shumagin Islands
Geographical Area: Alaska
Date: July 25, 2006

ENS Olivia Hauser retrieves the CTD, which contains data that will provide a baseline reading of the speed of sound through the water. This information will assist in the sonar readings that will be taken of the sea floor.
ENS Olivia Hauser retrieves the CTD, which contains data that will provide a baseline reading of the speed of sound through the water. This information will assist in the sonar readings that will be taken of the sea floor.

Science and Technology Log 

The purpose of the hydrography work that the RAINIER is doing is to collect data using sonar readings of the ocean floor to provide a picture of the topography of what’s under the water, otherwise known as bathymetry.  Are there volcanic pinnacles or other underwater hazards that we are unaware of? Updated NOAA charts need to be made to show more detail and the complexities of the waterways due to a large increase in Pacific Rim ship traffic between Asia and North America.

We began surveying the Semedi Islands area from the ship today.  At 0800 a crew went on to the fantail (back deck) of the ship to lower a device called a CTD.  This canister-like apparatus takes measurements of Conductivity, water Temperature, and Depth, from which the speed of sound through the water can be calculated.  These measurements are taken every 4-6 hours and are used to calibrate the readings taken by the ship’s multi-beam sonar mapping system.  For a few days we will continue to do these ship surveys since the water’s depth is greater in this area. The ship’s sonar can cover a wider area at a lower resolution than the smaller launches that we will use to survey the shallower waters in the Shumagin Islands.

The area inside the square being pointed to is where the NOAA ship RAINIER is surveying to take measurements of water depth as well as to locate any underwater features such as rocks and volcanic pinnacles.
The area inside the square being pointed to is where the NOAA ship RAINIER is surveying to take measurements of water depth as well as to locate any underwater features such as rocks and volcanic pinnacles.

ENS Sam Greenaway, who is a Navigational Officer, spent time showing me nautical charts of the areas that we will be working in.  There is a lot of very important information found on these charts, which are used by anyone operating a vessel on the water (fisherman, Navy ships, Coast Guard ships, cargo ships, etc.).  In addition to showing water depths, these charts show where there are lighthouses, rocks, ledges, buoys, coastlines, and other potential hazards or physical locations.  A ship like the RAINIER relies on these charts as a means of planning a route to follow.

ENS Sam Greenaway works on a nautical chart.
ENS Sam Greenaway works on a nautical chart.

Personal Log 

I had a good night’s sleep last night.  I think the gentle rolling motion had something to do with it as well as the sound of the water lapping up against the ship. I only wish the rolling and swaying motion I feel was so comforting during the day! After getting sick this afternoon, I finally gave in and took some seasickness medicine.  I might have to take it everyday if I’m getting sick in rather calm seas. I did find out that once we get to the Shumagin Islands in a few days we will be anchored.  I’m definitely looking forward to that. Earlier today there were three Dall’s porpoise riding the bow of the ship. They like to play and swim along the wake of the ship as we move forward.  Yesterday there were some sea otters spotted as well as several clusters of puffins. We’ve been told on the RAINIER’s last trip to the area we’re going that there were a lot of humpback whales.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Computer showing data being acquired from the RAINIER ship sonar. The blue color means deeper water. The green color is shallower water.
Computer showing data being acquired from the RAINIER ship sonar. The blue color means deeper water. The green color is shallower water.

We had our first fire and abandon ship drills today. Safety has definitely been emphasized by the location of safety gear around the ship, the requirement for wearing hardhats and float jackets when on deck, and the safety drills. We all have these papers called bunk cards that we must hang on our bunk beds in the stateroom.  The cards tell each person where they should muster (meet) on the ship for each type of drill as well as what type of extra gear they are responsible for bringing.  I needed to photocopy my card to carry around with me since I can’t remember exactly where I’m supposed to be for which drill. The sun broke through this afternoon….very exciting.  It’s been very cloudy and drizzly ever since I arrived on Saturday.

Keep shining sunshine!

TAS Kim Wolke showing off her float jacket and hardhat after a fire drill.
TAS Kim Wolke showing off her float jacket and hardhat after a fire drill.
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Kim Wolke, July 24, 2006

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Kim Wolke
Onboard NOAA Ship Rainier
July 23 – August 11, 2006

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

TAS Kim Wolke in her immersion suit during safety training.
Kim Wolke in her immersion suit during safety training.

Personal Log 

Right after breakfast this morning we had a safety demonstration by the Deck Utilityman Kenneth Keys. The five of us who are the “newbies” on the RAINIER for this leg had to be issued a life vest, a float jacket, and an immersion suit, otherwise known as a “gumby suit”. Of course, it’s not enough to just have this safety equipment, we also needed to put it on. The immersion suit was quite an experience to say the least.

By 1600 hours today we were departing Kodiak Island to begin our cruise to the Shumagin Islands.  As we were leaving the dock, I stood on the fly bridge to observe the deckhands at work. It’s quite an undertaking to depart port.  There’s definitely a lot of teamwork involved.  As we were making our way into Chiniak Bay, I stood on the port side of the ship (which is the left side) talking with ENS Sam Greenaway.  He pointed out to me the red buoys that we were passing which were on the port side of the ship. The buoys basically serve as a guide for the ship in areas where they may be shallow waters such as he channel we were passing through. In the United States, as a ship is leaving, the red buoys should stay on the port side. If we were returning, the red buoys would be on the starboard (right) side of the ship.

Deckhands at work as NOAA ship RAINIER departs Kodiak Island.
Deckhands at work as the ship departs Kodiak.

As we started getting into a bit rougher water, I really started feeling the pitching and rolling of the ship. The pitch is the forward to backward movement and the rolling is the side-toside movement.  Many of the crewmembers had taken some medication earlier to avoid seasickness.  I was not one of them.  Gradually I became dizzier and dizzier and started to feel nauseous. I stood on the bridge for a bit and watched the horizon before I finally found an empty couch and just laid down.  The bridge is the part of the ship where the ship’s navigational controls and other essential equipment related to ship operations are located and operated. Hopefully I develop my “sea legs” and I can avoid taking any of the seasickness medication.    

Tomorrow we’re supposed to begin doing some ship hydrography which means that all of the work that will be done will be from the ship itself and not from the smaller launch boats that are also used. I’m excited to see how all of the cool technology works.

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Kim Wolke, July 23, 2006

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Kim Wolke
Onboard NOAA Ship Rainier
July 23 – August 11, 2006

Mission: Hydrographic Survey of the Shumagin Islands
Geographical Area: Alaska
Date: July 23, 2006

NOAA ship RAINIER docked at the US Coast Guard base in Kodiak, AK
NOAA ship RAINIER docked at the US Coast Guard base in Kodiak, AK

Personal Log 

Hello! I finally arrived on Kodiak Island yesterday after 3 different planes and a 4hour time change.  I was met with a smile by Ensign (ENS) Jamie Wasser who brought me to the RAINIER, which is currently docked at the Coast Guard base here on Kodiak Island until our scheduled departure on Monday, July 24. As we approached the ship, ENS and morale coordinator Olivia Hauser greeted us and invited me to join a group to go out for sushi.  I started jumping up and down–SUSHI!!! I can only wonder what thoughts were running through her head, as this was our very first meeting.

After quickly being shown my “home” for the next 3 weeks and meeting Jackie Hams, the other Teacher at Sea who is on the cruise, we all piled into the shuttle van to go for our sushi dinner. I immediately felt comfortable as we talked and laughed.  I was also growing more and more tired as I had been up for almost 24 hours at this point.

After returning to the ship, I met my roommate Dorothea “Doe” Mackey, one of the stewards who works in the kitchen. I unpacked and had a tour of the vessel.  Initially I was a little overwhelmed by all the twists and turns and stairs, but after exploring for a bit, I’m getting more comfortable with the maze.  Since we’re not scheduled to leave here for another day, I’ve had some time to get acclimated and talk with many of the crew.  So far the crewmembers I’ve met have been very friendly, informative, and helpful.  There are some very interesting personalities on board. •

Being a rather tall individual, the close quarters will take a little getting used to.  I have the top bunk in my stateroom.  I usually like the top bunk, however, this one will take some getting used to.  The ceiling is about 2 feet above the bed, which makes for quite a claustrophobic experience. It took me about 10 minutes to get down from the bunk this morning since I couldn’t sit up and I kept hitting my head on the ceiling.  My apologies to Doe if I woke her with all of the ruckus.