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MISSION DISPATCH 9 • 09/04/01 Today's Weather - images courtesy of NOAA & RSMAS Dispatch by Rebecca Johnson - HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution Latitude: 40°21'48"N • Longitude: 68°9'33"W 
Six short blasts on the ship's horn, followed by one long blast - here on the R/V SEWARD JOHNSON,
that acutely attention-grabbing alarm means one thing: abandon ship. We heard those braying blasts
this morning at 10 am. No, it wasn't a bona fide emergency, simply a drill, a chance to practice
the procedure we'd follow in the event that a fire, explosion, or some other maritime disaster
forced us all into the water. It was also the opportunity to dress up in what is quite possibly
the world's least fashionable garment: the Model ISS-590i Immersion Suit.
When the alarm sounded, the entire ship's population promptly assembled near the stern on the main deck, every person toting a bright orange bag. We each withdrew from our respective bags an equally bright orange neoprene suit. There's no doubt that the suits are lifesavers. Should you have to jump overboard in these chilly waters, the ISS-590i is probably the only thing between you and death from hypothermia. The trick is not to kill yourself first by putting it on. 
On the outside of the bag are printed helpful "donning instructions" to guide you through the process. Step 1: "Don the suit as you would a pair of coveralls." On the heaving deck of a ship at sea, however, this step is most successfully accomplished by spreading the suit out flat and sitting on it. Once you've eliminated the risk of falling down and bruising something, you can proceed to stick your legs inside the suit, scoot forward, hitch up yards of bulky fabric around your waist, and attempt to stand. Assuming you do eventually gain a vertical position, you next must struggle into the suit's arms and force your fingers into gargantuan lobster-claw gloves that lurk at the end of the sleeves. With entirely useless hands, you then move on to steps 2-5: "Pull hood over head. Close zipper fully. Adjust wrist and ankle bands. Close face flap." That last step is the one, which temporarily at least, silences the giggles. 
Finally, when we are all fully clad in our spongy armor, Captain Ralph instructs us on how to jump overboard, avoid burning fuel on the water's surface, clamber into lifeboats, and manage to stay alive for up to 40 days on a mere pint of water per day. Serious stuff, no doubt. But watching a few dozen adults dress up like giant orange Gumbys may be the most fun the captain's had on this cruise! Do you have a question for the ship and sub crew on this ocean expedition? Just ask the crew @Sea in our MISSION FORUM!  | |
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