Draft cruise instructions for W9706A

CRUISE PLAN R/V WECOMA

Oregon State University - College of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Sciences
FILING DATE:  April 1997

CRUISE NUMBER: W9706A

TITLE:  Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigation

CONTRACT/GRANT NUMBER: 04NA67RJ0151

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:  James D. Schumacher and Phyllis J. 
Stabeno, NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Lab., (206) 526-6197, 
(206) 526-6453, Fax: (206) 526-6485.

CRUISE DATES:  June 4 - 9, 1997 

PURPOSE:  One of the goals of our laboratory is to gain understanding  of the mean state and variability of the northern Pacific Ocean, with  an emphasis on aspects relevant to natural resources, especially  fisheries. The primary objective of this cruise will be to deploy  current meter moorings.

ITINERARY:  The order of operations is subject to change.

The ship will depart Dutch Harbor and steam to the vicinity of St.  George Island where we will deploy three moorings - one subsurface  current meter mooring, one Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) in a  trawl-resistant platform, and one subsurface upward-looking  Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) in syntactic foam  flotation.  

The ship will then proceed to the vicinity of Nunivak Island.  Nine  moorings will be deployed in this area - one surface mooring, two  ADPs in trawl-resistant platforms, and six subsurface current  meter moorings.

If time permits, and if the work has not been accomplished on a  previous cruise, the ship will head towards Bristol Bay.  At each of  two sites, a mooring will be recovered and replaced.

As time permits, testing of the Multiple Plankton Sampler (MPS)  will be performed.  The primary objectives of the MPS testing are:   to establish deployment/retrieval routines and to conduct diel  studies.  The MPS attaches to the aft end of an 8' Isaacs-Kidd  Midwater Trawl (IKMT).  The net will be deployed with the trawl  winch through the stern A-frame using 10/32" (?) conducting cable.   Either a real-time Sea-Bird or a ScanMar sensor will be attached to  the net.  The trawling operation may require two scientists, two  deck crew, and one winch operator during deployment and retrieval.   A deck hose will be required to rinse the nets.   

RADIOACTIVE METHODS:  None will be used.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:  
formalin, approximately 2.5 gal
ethanol, approximately 1 liter
lithium batteries

SAMPLING PLAN:  CTD information will be collected using the ship's  CTD system.  A CTD cast will be taken after each mooring is  deployed and prior to any mooring recoveries.  All casts will be made  to near bottom.  Lowering speeds will be about 30 m/min in the  upper 300 m and about 45 m/min below that - except on the shelf  where the lowering rate will be 10-15 m/min for the entire  downcast.  Retrieval will be at the fastest practical speed.  A  salinity sample will be collected on each cast. 

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:  Shipboard CTD system (with spare sensors);  associated data display, logging, and output systems; shipboard  ADCP profiler with display and logging system; GPS navigation  system and INMARSAT phone/fax system for occasional scientific  use. The Ashtech system must be functioning for use with GPS  navigation.

SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL: 
Scientist in charge:  Carol DeWitt, NOAA/PMEL;
Other scientists:  Dave Kachel (?), Bill Parker, TBA (1) (all PMEL), 
Ric Brodeur, Jay Clark, Matt Wilson (all AFSC), and TBA (1?) (NMML).

OSU Marine Technicians:  1 requested

USER SUPPLIED EQUIPMENT:
Vans/Containers: None
One - two computer terminals, software package/discs.
OTHER BULKY HEAVY ITEMS:  All mooring equipment will be 
loaded in Seattle prior to departure for W9705B.  The following  items were listed in the cruise instructions for W9705B:  concrete  anchors, cable, subsurface floats, one 13-foot diameter surface  buoy. The cruise instructions for W9705B stated that the preceding  items were going to be transported for off loading to the R/V Alpha  Helix in Dutch Harbor.  This has changed - these items will not be  deployed from the R/V Alpha Helix - they will be deployed from the  WECOMA during W9706A.

In addition, the following items will be loaded in Seattle prior to  departure for W9705B (weights are approximate):  12 railroad wheel  anchors (12000 pounds total), two trawl resistant platforms  (approx. 62" x 71" x16.5", 1000 pounds), one trawl resistant  platform (13' diam, 2500 pounds), buoy tower (approx.  7' tall, 4.5'  wide at the base, 200 pounds), buoy bridle (approx. 4 ' x 4.5' at the  base, 300 pounds), and syntactic flotation (32" diam).  Instruments  include three Acoustic Doppler Profilers, fourteen releases, four  Seacats, 17 Aanderaa current meters, and 40 Miniature Temperature  Recorders.

Location:  Open deck (for bulky heavy items only) including IKMT net with 8'x3" diam spreader bar and 8' V-fin depressor (~200  pounds total for net, bar and depressor) and MPS in wooden box 3x6x6' (~400 pounds) (can be stowed on deck if it  is in an area protected from spray and rain)
 
Estimated Weight:  approximately 25,000 pounds.

BILLING INFORMATION:
Name:  Cindy Loitsch
Address:  NOAA, PMEL, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115
Account Number (or number to reference):

DO YOU WANT CELLULAR/INMARSAT PHONE ACCESS:  Yes

ATTACHMENTS:
Station Map (not with this version)