Considering all the work that had to be done today in preparation for our arrival tomorrow, I only got about five hours of sleep before getting started again. The first task was to complete the final report regarding the Education Program. It would become part of a larger Cruise Report being complied by the Chief Scientist, Dr. Craig Cary. All of the major contributors to the expedition had their own parts to complete for the report. The deadline for completion was by noon today. I saved the final version of mine just in time and still had about 15 minutes left to make it to lunch. Larry prepared several Indian dishes, all of which were great.

Shortly after eating, everyone rushed off to the Main Lab for the “Main Event” — Captain Gary Chiljean versus Dr. Monika Bright in the R/V Atlantis Ping-Pong Tournament Finals! This was a big deal because Monika was representing all the scientists aboard, while the Captain not only represented all the crew members, but also was defending his title. Several people gathered around to show their support for each competitor. Since this was the final round, the series was best 3 out of 5. The Captain won the first…then the second…then brought it home with a third win. The tournament was finally over, and the championship trophy would keep its place aboard Atlantis. My understanding is that the Captain is practically unbeatable, so Monika’s effort was valiant despite the outcome. (See Neat Stuff for footage.)

The ping-pong match didn’t last too long, and I was off to work again, continuing down the checklist. Next item of attack: Vent Poetry Contest. This week, I had the most entries yet. I had to finish reading them all (over and over), as I judged which I would choose as the winners. By about 2 p.m. (1400), I had finally selected the 1st–3rd place winners for the week, as well as the overall winners of the contest (see results in Virtual Science Fair).

About that same time, all the scientists were called to meet on the back deck (fantail) to help move some line (rope), along with the Alvin group. First, they brought old line from the winch room up to the deck, where they coiled it into a manageable bundle. The line will either be disposed of or sold, now that it has reached its maximum allowable “tows.” After that was unloaded, they all marched to the bow, where they heaved newer line down to the winch room to replace the one they had just removed. It was quite a sight to see more than 20 people carrying this thick, long line across their shoulder — like a human anaconda! My camera was my refuge, sparing me the labor. Later, though, I tried lifting part of the old one, and got a sense of just how heavy it really was. No wonder it took so many people, closely spaced, to get it from one place to another.

Time check: 2:20 p.m., 10 minutes before the final science meeting of the cruise! I actually worked that entire period, before finally heading to the library for the meeting. We got the dive report from Alison from yesterday, after which Craig made a list of announcements regarding our arrival to port, departure from the ship, and travels home. He also took the opportunity to recognize several groups and individuals for their significant roles during the expedition, including my efforts as Shipboard Education Coordinator. It roused a round of applause from the scientists, which I was flattered to receive. That support makes the work more than worth the time and energy. The experience has definitely been rewarding. I hope I have been able to make it just as rewarding for all of you, virtually. Immediately following the meeting, we all gathered on the back deck to take group photographs — another item on my checklist. It was nice to see everyone together, all smiles. Even once we finished the pictures, several people stayed outside enjoying the day, as well as each other’s company. That didn’t last too long, though, because we all had more preparations to make and final tasks to complete. Most people spent the day packing up equipment, samples, personal items, and other things. This has been our home for three weeks, so “moving out” is quite a chore.

I was left with about two more hours to take some final photographs and prepare other materials for the Web site, before it was time for dinner. As the last dinner of the cruise, we were again treated to a cookout on the deck. Carl and Larry spent hours preparing the feast, which was quite a spread! Once everyone was stuffed and content, the real party began. The music was playing, the sun was setting, and we were all enjoying the fact that the ship was steaming toward the shore. To complement the atmosphere, Irene passed out glow sticks, which no one seemed to hesitate wearing. Some people donned more than one. It was fun to see how creatively they can be worn. By nightfall, people were starting to dance, which didn’t happen at the first cookout we had. The darker our surroundings got, the more vibrant the multiple neon colors became — how cool!

Though I really wished I could stay out, it was already after 8 p.m., and I still had a lot to get done by tomorrow morning. So, I tore myself away. For a while, I had company from those working in the computer lab around me, but they began to dwindle away. Completing the expedition is almost as busy as the start of it was, though not quite. I’m in the “home stretch,” now and will be done soon.

Before I go, here's a mini-quiz to see if you all have learned the shipboard lingo. Match the term with its translation:

So, how’d you do? With that, I will sign off for the night. Only one more day left — our arrival to Manzanillo!

As the ships boatswain (a.k.a., bosun), my day begins at 07:30 hrs. It’s a dive day and the small boat must be readied to handle and support the swimmers who tend to Alvin during launch and recovery. The boat's coxswain (driver) has already made sure that the engine has started and that the required gear is in the boat. My job is to direct the crane and lift the Avon from its cradle, swing it outboard, lower it a little, and nestle it gently against the ship's side. We are now ready to launch, Alvin is ready, and the bridge is ready. At the sound of the ship’s whistle, we slew the boat and coxswain away from the ship and lower it into the water where it is released from the crane. Line-handlers have been employed as well, helping to control any sudden or violent motion that could result in serious injury. We will wait 10 to 15 minutes for the return of the Avon, and we will recover and stow the boat.

It is true that any ship is only as good as its crew, and indeed Atlantis is blessed with one of the better teams. Alvin group, the bridge crews, the deck crew, the engine dept., and science must all work together to complete a difficult and potentially dangerous task. Everything must come together and mesh for us to be successful.

After Avon ops, it is usually 08:30 or so, and its time to begin the day's assignments, as bosun (deck foreman), along with my day-workers, it is largely our responsibility to keep the ship clean, the winches, cranes, capstan, and windlass greased and lubed. Rust never sleeps, and it’s our job to do battle with the effects of salt water on steel — chipping and painting are essential to the preservation as well as appearance of the vessel. We also do the splicing of lines and making of bridles for science experiments.

The deployment and recovery of the science instruments via the elevator — a long tether of line with floats at one end and a platform at the other, by which Alvin can handle a bigger payload of bioboxes, samples, etc.

The elevator is deployed by the ship on the evening before the dive using coordinates provided by science and relayed to the bridge. The elevator is streamed and then released on the spot, where it sinks to the bottom. The next day, Alvin retrieves it, moves it to the work site, loads the platform, and when finished, pulls the pin that releases the weights. Then, the elevator rises through the water column where we recover it on the surface.

Atlantis bridge and deck crews pride ourselves in making difficult and dangerous tasks look safe and professional. Some of the types of gear and instruments we deploy and recover are moorings — long strings of science instrumentation such as current meters, temperature probes, sediment traps, and water profilers. Many of these are very delicate and must be dealt with as you would handle a case of eggs — one bump against the ship's hull and the data is lost, not to mention the replacement cost of the instrument and the wrath of the Chief Scientist. Some of these moorings exceed 5,000 meters and stay down recording data for as long as two years — imagine the loss of potential data!

We routinely handle Remote Operation Vehicles (ROVs), both Jason and Isis, and the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE), which is a free vehicle, untethered to the ship. We do gravity and piston coring sampling sediments from the ocean bottom. We also use heat probes with 5,000-l.b core heads, 20-ft. pipe core barrels, and giant thermometers attached that measure temperature. In addition, we handle box cores, giant tripods with instrumentation contained within, thermal blankets, magnetometers, otter trawls, moch-nesses, towed cameras (some weighing two tons), and much more. A lot of things can happen when you pick a package or load up from the deck on a rolling platform, most of which are bad. However, as the deck crew of Atlantis, we are considered some of the best gear handlers in the world by many scientists, and our reputation is its own reward.

Alvin has once again completed its mission, the workhorse of the deep submergence fleet — 18 dives in 19 days. Taking science deep to the ocean floor, hopefully to discover new and wonderful things as it has so many times in the past. Who knows what amazing discoveries the future holds? Meanwhile, the deck dept. must wash down the ship in preparation for our arrival where we will tie the ship up, offload science, take on stores, and prepare for our next cruise. We'll spend this Christmas at sea — a transit to San Diego. Oh, by the way, Happy Holidays, to one and all.

Sincerest Regards,
Wayne A. Bailey
Boatswain
R/V Atlantis