Shortly after arriving in Baltimore, remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer was off-loaded from Okeanos Explorer to the pier that would be its home for the next few days. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.1 MB).
September 16, 2014
From September 10-16, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer and the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research participated in the Star-Spangled Spectacular in Baltimore, Maryland. Over 2,100 people visited and toured the ship during this time. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, but it was extremely exciting for our team to share our passion for exploration with our guests. If you don’t live in Baltimore or weren’t able to tour the ship, here are some pictures from our time in Baltimore.
Over 2,100 people visited Okeanos Explorer during our time in Baltimore. Here, a group walks up the gangway to begin their tour. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.3 MB).
NOAA Administrator Kathy Sullivan and Chief Scientist Rick Spinrad demonstrate the value of mapping efforts sponsored by the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research off the U.S. East Coast to Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 346 KB).
Okeanos Explorer’s officers received a visit from Captain Barnacles and Kwazii when the Octonauts joined our team in Baltimore. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.6 MB).
On the way into Baltimore, a cameraman from CBS's 60 Minutes filmed Okeanos Explorer from NOAA Ship Bay Hydro II. Image courtesy of NOAA Office of Coast Survey. Download larger version (jpg, 715 KB).
NOAA Administrator Kathy Sullivan tours Okeanos Explorer. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 656 KB).
Mapping team lead Meme Lobecker explains how Okeanos Explorer sonar systems acquire data and describes the some of the recent discoveries, including hundreds of gas seeps along the eastern seaboard. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.9 MB).
Okeanos Explorer remotely operate vehicle (ROV) team lead, Dave Lovalvo, describes ROV operations and the mechanics of the vehicles to a group of U.S. Naval Academy ocean engineering students. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 2.3 MB).
Okeanos Explorer docked at the National Aquarium during her stay in Baltimore. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.5 MB).
Roland Brian gives a tour of the control room and describes how ROV operations are conducted onboard Okeanos Explorer. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 2.1 MB).
The view from Okeanos Explorer for the Star-Spangled Spectacular fireworks. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 1.7 MB).
To kick off the Star-Spangled Spectacular, Sail Baltimore hosted a parade of ships which included tall ships, like the Gazela pictured here, as well as Navy, Coast Guard, and NOAA ships. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 382 KB).
Staff from our hosts, the National Aquarium, welcome Okeanos to Baltimore. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 3.6 MB).
NOAA’s R/V Bay Hydro II took a break from mapping the Chesapeake to join Okeanos in Baltimore for the Star-Spangled Spectacular. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 4.3 MB).
