Tuesday, October 7, 2008
First Day At Sea
Our first day at sea is a day of mainly travel and drills. We are moving east around the island of Martha's Vinyard towards our first tow of the day. In the mean-time here is 
a photo of our departure. This one shows our ship under the bridge leading into Newport. We were on our way out of town.
Did you know that ships like the Bigelow have all kinds of safety procedures? We had two drills today. In one the crew all went to the back of the ship and put on our survivial gear. This suit will help us survive and be spotted by rescurers in the event we have to abandon ship. It is called an abandon ship drill.
Snuggy and Zee also had their own tour of the ship. Each day they will visit a few places and show you pictures so you can see what different parts of the ship look like. They came in on the gangplank this morning. Just like all the sailors do.
Zee and Snuggy on the bridge.
Zee practices starting the motors.
The nets are ready for our first day of fishing. Zee and Snuggy are ready to help.
CP and others, it is not likely that we will see anything new in the water that has never been discovered. Sceintists study this area in detail every day to look for changes to the number of fish or patterns in where they live. we have a good idea of what is doen there.
AR, I will try to answer all your questions in the days to come. I have a bed called a rack here on the ship. I have a small quarters and one very nice roommate. I'll show you around soon.
The weather here is perfect. The water is not cold or hot. It is just right. By the way, I will not be going to the bottom. We will lower nets to the bottom and see what we bring up.
EA, this ship is 210 feet long.
My brother David asks if I bring music along. Yes. I have my whole collection on my computer. Including all your discs!
a photo of our departure. This one shows our ship under the bridge leading into Newport. We were on our way out of town. Did you know that ships like the Bigelow have all kinds of safety procedures? We had two drills today. In one the crew all went to the back of the ship and put on our survivial gear. This suit will help us survive and be spotted by rescurers in the event we have to abandon ship. It is called an abandon ship drill.
During a fire drill, we go to our assigned safe spot for attendance – we call it muster. And the officers and crew practice putting out a fire. A fire on a ship can be dangerous. There are no fireman to call, so crew have to learn to put out fires on their own. That takes practice.
Snuggy and Zee also had their own tour of the ship. Each day they will visit a few places and show you pictures so you can see what different parts of the ship look like. They came in on the gangplank this morning. Just like all the sailors do.
Here they are on deck.
Zee and Snuggy on the bridge. Zee practices starting the motors. The nets are ready for our first day of fishing. Zee and Snuggy are ready to help.
Tomorrow, WOS students, please tell me what other parts of the ship we should visit. CLE students, you had lots of good ideas about how Columbus' ship and mine are different. Technology is at the top of the list. Imagine crossing the ocean with just a compass, a steering wheel and a quadrent. What an adventure. We live in luxury even on our working ship. My quarters even have carpet! Keep those ideas coming.
Good night to them both. It's four in the afternoon and time for bed. I get up at 11 and start work at 12 midnight.
------------------------
Hello to all who wrote so far. Mrs. Christie Blick's class, Mr. Connaughton's class and others want to know when we start our survey work: We will begin our experiments late today after I have gone to bed, so I will tell you what we catch tomorrow. And I will send you LOTS of photographs! What do we want to catch? Well, different scientists need different things for their work. One of our scientists is studying lobsters. I hope we catch more than he needs so I can have a few for myself!
CP and others, it is not likely that we will see anything new in the water that has never been discovered. Sceintists study this area in detail every day to look for changes to the number of fish or patterns in where they live. we have a good idea of what is doen there.
AR, I will try to answer all your questions in the days to come. I have a bed called a rack here on the ship. I have a small quarters and one very nice roommate. I'll show you around soon.
The weather here is perfect. The water is not cold or hot. It is just right. By the way, I will not be going to the bottom. We will lower nets to the bottom and see what we bring up.
EA, this ship is 210 feet long.
My brother David asks if I bring music along. Yes. I have my whole collection on my computer. Including all your discs!
