By Jessica Pretty, Graduate Student, University of Alaska Fairbanks
July 28, 2016
The 24-hour sunlight of the Arctic summer means that work can happen at any time. However, beautiful views like this, which was taken during remotely operated vehicle operations at midnight, remind us that life on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy is a special experience. Image courtesy of Caitlin Bailey, GFOE, The Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands. Download larger version (3.3 MB).
As a graduate student living in Fairbanks, Alaska, I live year-round in a dry cabin: a structure with electricity and heat, but no running water. This means hauling water from a local source for drinking/cooking and, yes, having an outhouse.
From this perspective, life aboard any research vessel is incredibly luxurious since I no longer have to carry gallons of water to drink and even have access to a bathroom and shower from my room! In addition to these amenities (that other folks may take for granted), all meals are prepared for us.
Essentially we, as scientists, are only tasked with taking care of the science as the vessel and Healy crew work to make our lives otherwise simple and stress-free.
Of course, this does not mean life is not without its struggles. One challenge for many of us is going from living on our own, or at least having our own room, to sharing a room with one or two other people. We each have our own rack (or bed), two of which are bunk beds and the other a couch converted into a bed with an overhang that we lovingly call ‘the coffin.’ The people rooming together may not all be working on the same portion of science and therefore are often on very different schedules.
The staterooms on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy are quite spacious with enough storage for all three occupants in each room. Image courtesy of Caitlin Bailey, GFOE, The Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands. Download larger version (3.7 MB).
The helicopter hangar is used as a space for activities such as Crossfit, yoga, and morale events. Image courtesy of Caitlin Bailey, GFOE, The Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands. Download larger version (3.5 MB).
While at sea, especially in the Arctic summer, you’ll find there is no consistent day or night, but an ever-shifting narrow window where sleep is an option. Luckily, our racks have curtains that make any time of day appear dark and allow for a comfortable sleep.
When things don’t go as planned (because they never really do), everyone’s stress level rises. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy offers many opportunities to destress and feel a little more human. Not only is there a gym by the laundry room (a great way to pass the time during a washing/drying cycle), but the helicopter hangar has also been converted into an open space for activities. A couple of the folks on board offer daily group workouts and I’ve been lucky enough to teach some yoga classes in my spare time in this space.
After working on her instrument on the CTD, Jessica Pretty enjoys doing yoga to wind down. Image courtesy of Caitlin Bailey, GFOE, The Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands. Download larger version (3.6 MB).
If physical activity doesn’t pique your interest, there are also other diversions such as trivia nights, movie nights, and plenty of corners tucked away about the ship to read, etc. And if you’d just like to take a stroll outside, there is a 1/6 of a mile loop to enjoy, though you will have to walk two sets of stairs and open and close a couple hatches along your way.
Life at sea is always a challenge to some degree, but in my opinion the biggest factor is the boat and the people who surround you. In addition to the ship’s conveniences, the crew aboard the Healy works tirelessly around the clock to meet science’s needs while also attending to their other duties and projects in order to maintain a readiness for other potential Coast Guard missions or drills that may occur.
The science party, while all working hard on their own projects, also finds time to bring a little joy and a lot of laughter into the time at sea in a variety of ways. As the end of our cruise closes in, I realize I could not have asked for a better group of people, both scientists and crew, to spend six weeks with, exploring the Arctic Ocean.
