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Mission Plan

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Education

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Microbial Communities

Oceanic Biological Sounds
Oceanic Biological Sounds

Marine Chemical Ecology
Marine Chemical Ecology

Coral Genetics
Coral Genetics

Habitat Differences
Habitat Differences

Genetics of Deep-Sea Snails
Genetics of Deep-Sea Snails

Explorers
Explorers

Information

>Figure 1: Ship's crew, l. to r.: Pete Knight, Christian Knappe, Ed Woods, Logan Henderson, Ralph VanHoek, and Rich Timm.

Figure 1: Ship's crew, l. to r.: Pete Knight, Christian Knappe, Ed Woods, Logan Henderson, Ralph VanHoek, and Rich Timm. Click image for larger view and image credit.

Ship's crew, l. to r.: Aric Anderson, Dan Timm, Eric Bergendahl. Not pictured: Stuart Moreaux

Figure 2: Ship's crew, l. to r.: Aric Anderson, Dan Timm, Eric Bergendahl. Not pictured: Stuart Moreaux Click image for larger view and image credit.

A Cast of 18

November 15 , 2005

Cindy Renkas
Web Coordinator

camera icon View video footage of a Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) riding the bow wave of the R/V Seward Johnson as the sun rises. (Quicktime, 1 Mb.)

It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a ship-full of dedicated specialists to conduct an at-sea scientific research exploration.

The roles of the science crew for this expedition are posted with their biographies on this Web site. Below are brief job descriptions of the wonderful ship's and submersible crews supporting the Florida Coast Deep Corals expedition aboard the R/V Seward Johnson.

Ship’s Crew: (Figures 1 and 2)

Captain: Ralph VanHoek

Responsible for the safety of the ship and passengers; make sure the scientists onboard get as much of their project completed as possible.

Chief Mate: Aric Anderson

Assist the Captain with his duties, fill in as Captain if the Captain is not onboard; responsible for the overall maintenance of the ship.

Mate: Rich Timm

Responsible for maintenance onboard the vessel and act as the navigation officer (keep charts up to date).

Lead Seaman: Christian Knappe

Responsible for the maintenance of the vessel, assist with scientists' operations (such as running winches) and train new deckhands.

Seamen: Dan Timm and Logan Henderson

Responsible for the maintenance of the vessel (e.g. cleaning, chipping, painting) and assist with the scientists' operations.

Chief Engineer: Pete Knight

Responsible for all the machinery aboard the vessel, including the engine, electronics, electrical, and plumbing systems.

First Assistant Engineer: Eric Bergendahl

Assists the Chief Engineer in maintaining all the machinery aboard and fill in as Chief Engineer if the Chief Engineer is not onboard.

Second Assistant Engineer: Stuart Moreaux

Assist the Chief and First Assistant Engineers in maintaining all the machinery aboard.

Steward: Ed Woods

Responsible for ordering food supplies, cooking three meals a day for all aboard the ship, and keeping the galley clean.

Assistant Steward: Position unfilled for this expedition

Responsible for assisting the cook in meal preparation and clean-up.

Figure 3: Submersible crew

Figure 3: Submersible crew, l. to r.: Al Fuller, Frank Lombardo, Don Liberatore, Tim Askew, Jr., Phil Santos. Back: Hugo Marrero. Click image for larger view and image credit.

gorgonian corals

Figure 4: Marine Technician Keith Martin. Not pictured: Elizabeth Bruce. Click image for larger view and image credit.

Submersible’s Crew (Figure 3)

Submersible Operations Coordinator/Pilot: Don Liberatore

Responsible for the maintenance and safe operation of all submersible equipment; in charge of the submersible crew; act as liaison between the science crew, submerisble crew, and ship’s crew. Pilot the submersible on a rotating basis.

Assistant Submersible Operations Coordinator/Pilot: Phil Santos

Responsible for the Sub Operations Coordinator's duties above when the Coordinator is acting as the sub pilot. Pilot the submersible on a rotating basis.

Submersible Pilot/Technician: Tim Askew, Jr. and Hugo Marrero

Pilot the sub on a rotating basis and act as the life support technician in the aft chamber of the submersible during dives; act as swimmer (swim out with and connect cable to submersible when it surfaces from a dive) and communications operator (maintaining shipboard communications with the submersible during dives) on a rotating basis.

Submersible Technician: Frank Lombardo and Al Fuller

Act as life support technician in the aft chamber of the submersible during dives; act as swimmer (swim out with and connect cable to submersible when it surfaces from a dive) and communications operator (maintaining shipboard communications with the submersible during dives) on a rotating basis.

University of Miami Technicians (Figure 4)

Marine Technicians: Keith Martin and Elizabeth Bruce

Provide, calibrate, and teach scientists to use surface oceanographic equipment onboard; record and provide to the scientists data collected throughout the expedition (fluorescence, solar radiation, temperature, salinity, depth, weather, wind, barometric pressure, humidity, GPS, rainfall); assist scientists with use of onboard satellite e-mail program.

Florida Coast Deep Corals will be sending daily reports from Nov 7 - 21. Please check back frequently for additional logs from this expedition.

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