If at first you don't succeed..., Working on getting the ship moving again Options

[Steve_Marshall]

Friday 6/17/05 #2
If at First You Don’t Succeed…..

Part of the tour we took today was discussing the bow thrusters; how the ship propels water though pipes and out the ship to one side or the other, or both, to help maneuver the ship. It was ironic, therefore, that our tour was cut a little short because the captain was ready to order the use of the bow thrusters as another technique to help set us free. So, just as with the propellers, we and much of the ship’s crew went out onto the outside decks to see the show of water and ice as the bow thrusters kicked into operation.

Another Tourist Picture

Me Standing on the Bow of the Ship During the Bow Thruster Operation

I Wasn’t the Only One!

Greg Cutter, Brian Meeks, and Joseph Ortiz watching the show too

Making Some Space

It’s hard to tell in this picture, but most of that water is being moved by the bow thrusters, and is actually melting some of the ice. I’m not sure, but I think it must be the combination of colors that makes this picture one of my favorites.

Trying Something Different
After the bow thrusters made SOME progress in getting us free, but didn’t completely do the job, the next technique used was a little unusual…The crew used several of the ship’s fire hoses in an attempt to melt and blast away the ice with pressurized water. While we were all a little skeptical (even the ever-humorous Plan of the Day (POD) mentioned it as being unorthodox and later termed it “Operation Infinite Firehose.”), in retrospect, it may have been the technique that helped the most in getting us free. Not only that, but it made for some interesting ice sculptures!

Firemen Without a Fire

Some of the Healy Crew setting up the firehoses on the stern of the ship, ready to battle the ice

Take That!

One of the ship’s crew taking better aim at the ice

Operation Infinite Firehose

It’s hard to pick out at first, but look for the hose nozzle to next to the barrel shown in the upper right corner of this picture, and you can see the jet of water being shot at the ice.

Ice Sculptures

The effect of the water hoses on the ice was more than you would have thought, AND it made for some interesting designs in the ice too!

Manning the Battle Stations

A close up of the crew members maintaining the fire hose operations

When the novelty of the firehose technique wore off a little, we went to dinner, and then went to the listen to this evening’s science talk that was given by Dennis Darby. He shared his research of past climate changes and circulation in the Arctic, much of which this particular cruise is designed to build upon.

The Big Guys

After Dennis Darby’s talk, He (pictured left) talks again with Captain Oliver (center) and machinery tech Mike Huff (right), but this time about more pressing issues: the status of the ship

[Janet_Warburton]

Wow Steve - glad you guys FINALLY got out of the ice. Nice photos of the ship - pretty interesting. Captain Oliver has also been posting his own journal entries on following web site: http://www.odu.edu/sci/oceanography/hotrax...se_log_leg1.htm

Nice to read your entries and his for comparison. Here's to moving forward! Hope you get some samples soon.

Janet