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MISSION DISPATCH 4 • 07/10/01 Today's Weather - images courtesy of NOAA & RSMAS Dispatch by Heath Mills - Georgia Institute of Technology July 10, 2001 Weather again was perfect today. Our location in the morning was GC233 but was cut short by a worn piston plate on the A-frame. We visited an oil rig to improve our cell phone reception to reach Port Fourchon, LA to arrange for a replacement. Currently (2300 hours), we are back at GC233 doing bottom surveys, CTD samples, and MOCNESS tows. 
The updated
schedule has us leaving GC233 for Fourchon, LA at approximately 1900 hours.
At port, the A-frame piston plate will be replaced and we
should be headed back to sea by Sunday.
At the helm of the R/V SEWARD JOHNSON is Captain Ralph Van Hoek. Ralph, as he insists to be called, keeps careful watch on all of the ships functions. Even with all of his responsibilities, he manages to interact regularly with the crew and scientists. Photograph by Heath Mills 
Submersilble Pilot, Phil Santos sits at the bridge control desk for submarine operations during mission 4318. From this desk, Phil keeps constant watch on the sub's position while serving as the communication link between the sub and the ship. Updates on dive mission status are relayed to the scientist back on the SEWARD JOHNSON, allowing them to prepare for samples returning from the deep. When not at the control desk, Phil can be found at the helm of the JOHNSON-SEA-LINK. Photograph by Heath Mills 
One of the most important people on board the SEWARD JOHNSON is the head cook, Christina Whigham. Christina is always a source for a great meal and a fun conversation. Being from Georgia, a southern flare can always be found, whether it is in the amazing corn bread, the Cajun sausage in the morning accompanied by grits, or the pecan pies. Each morning is made a little brighter being welcomed to the galley by Christina. Photograph by Patricia Sobecky 
During dive mission 4317 on Monday afternoon, the removal of a chunk of hydrate from a small outcropping revealed numerous shrimp and elusive ice worms. On previous dives, ice worm burrows have been seen in many pieces of hydrate, but no worms were found. Studies are ongoing to learn more about these creatures of the deep discovered in 1997. Photograph by Ira Leiffer 
Over the centuries, tools of navigation have evolved from the cross staff
and the sextant to detailed charts and global positioning systems. Even with
these modern pieces of equipment, navigating this part of the Gulf can be
very difficult due to the many oil rigs. Many of these rigs are not marked
on even the most up-to-date maps. To compensate, the person on watch must rely
on visual observations, the one tool of navigation that has remained constant
through the years. Photograph by Heath Mills
A structure like the one shown here serves multiple purposes here in the Gulf.
The primary purpose of these rigs is obviously drilling for oil. However,
for the crew of the R/V SEWARD JOHNSON, this rig was used for it's powerful communication
capabilities. Acquisition of cell phone signals are only possible this far into
the Gulf high atop these rigs. We needed to make several calls to shore to arrange for
parts needed for the ship's A-frame - this will affect dive schedules slightly but there
is still plenty of work to be done on board. Photograph by Heath Mills
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