AT26-12

Ship

Vehicles

Cruise Party

Departure: Mar 14, 2014

Arrival: Mar 26, 2014

Operations Area

Science Objectives

March 12, 2014 - UPDATED SYNOPSIS:

Web site:

http://alvinverification.whoi.edu/

New cruise dates March 14 - 26,  New Orleans LA to Gulfport MS. - eb.

NEW SEPT 25 2013:

ALVIN CERTIFICATION HAS BEEN DELAYED.  THERFORE THIS CRUISE IS DELYAED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.  - Eric Benway.

Over the past four years, HOV Alvin has undergone a suite of enhancements including a new pressure hull with improved visibility and ergonomics, new digital imaging and data acquisition systems, a novel basket that accommodates greater payloads, and numerous improvements to the vehicle’s command and control systems. The new pressure sphere has been certified to 6500m. Future upgrades to the submarine’s batteries and other major subsystems will ultimately make this HOV capable of operations at 6500 m.

Completion of the sea trials,  will result in Alvin being recertified for operations to 4500m.  However, there are aspects of vehicle operation and performance that are critical to science but not necessarily included in the certification process as defined by the US Navy’s NAVSEA protocols.  Consequently, a science verification cruise (SVC) will be conducted to assess the research capabilities of the vehicle.  The specific objectives of the cruise will include:  1) involvement of experienced users to ensure operational components and scientific sensors on the vehicle are working properly, 2) pursuit of various science projects and opportunistic exploration, and 3) education of early career scientists who plan to conduct deep submergence field science using HOV Alvin. 

Science Activities

Jan 23 - UPDATED SYNOPSIS:

Evaluating the Science Capabilities of the new HOV Alvin

Navigation and Data Collection

• Assess navigational capabilities as necessary, including ease of adding science-supplied bathymetric underlays and waypoints, evaluating the results and assessing the accuracy and precision of the navigation and data logging systems.
• Assess “routine” processing software designed to enable scientists and onboard technicians to verify the quality of navigation and other relevant data streams produced by contextual sensors on the submersible.
• Determine if submersible data streams (e.g., time, altitude, depth, heading, navigation, and other science-oriented sensors) are readily accessible to the user in standard formats;
• Determine if data storage and data access systems on board RV Atlantis are compatible with submersible data streams;
• Establish the functionality of the frame grabber system; determine that this system operates -at a minimum- to enable rapid assessment of operational and scientific data post-dive; assess the ease of incorporating this metadata into the R2R data system being developed for all UNOLS vessels.

Power, Speed, and Duration Capability

• Assess realized transit speed of Alvin near bottom and in the water column (The Alvin group will work with the scientists to appropriately tabulate power consumption during various operations, and compare these data to expected power consumption in order to provide the user community with reasonable expectations for dive duration and on-bottom times, and to develop better operating procedures for users). 

Seafloor Mapping

• Undertake and evaluate near-bottom multibeam mapping in flat and rough terrains, including assessment of artifacts, protocols for data acquisition, and shipboard capabilities for post-dive data processing and production of gridded data acceptable for field use in planning dives.
• Undertake and evaluate the reproducibility of mapping (i.e., repeat mapping of an area, including comparison to pre-existing near-bottom bathymetric data).
• Work with NDSF to develop a ‘best practices’ document to provide both NDSF staff and the user community with protocols for high-resolution multibeam mapping using the submersible (including coordination with mapping operations for other NDSF vehicles – ROV Jason and AUV Sentry)

Lighting and Imaging

• Assess whether illumination and its areal coverage is appropriate for obtaining “high quality” still and video imagery with the HD cameras in their standard configuration. 
• Verify operations and “ease of use” of recording systems, including in-hull controls, focus/zoom performance, pan/tilt adjustments and aperture settings for each camera. 
• Assess the ease of producing copies of video and still image data for science and archives, and quality/operational efficiency of duplicate imagery produced by onboard image duplication systems.
• Optional: Assess the vehicle’s capabilities to collect image series for photomosaicing (with the photomosaics to be made by the science party).

Sampling Capability

• Verify the ease of using the variety of standard NDSF HOV sampling systems and instruments (http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=21075).
• Assess both manipulators for delicate manipulation and fine-scale collections of sediments, rocks and organisms.
• Use a range of basket configurations and payloads to assess basket flexibility, accessibility by the manipulators, and payload capacity
• Verify mid-water capabilities, including the ability to maintain neutral buoyancy and collect samples of water, particles, and – if possible- organisms.

Instrument Interface

• Assess the capability to interface user-provided equipment/sensors to the vehicle, including power and communications and basket integration (Note: these instruments must be compliant with HOV safety requirements). 
• Evaluate the ability of the vehicle to interact with elevators to transport samples/equipment to/from the seafloor.

Ergonomics and Habitability

• Evaluate the ergonomics in Alvin, specifically how users interact in the personnel sphere with viewports, seating, camera and video controls and monitors, voice recording, other equipment and each other.
• Evaluate the ease of outfitting and dismantling the Alvin basket before and after each dive.

Additional Info

Stations:

Supporting documentation:

Shipboard Equipment

Shipboard Communication

CTD/Water Sampling

Critical CTD Sensors

Sample Storage

Navigation

Navigation

Winches

Standard Oceanographic Cables

Portable Vans

Specialized Deck Equipment

Over the Side Equipment

Special Requirements

Additional Cruise Items/Activities

Hazardous Material

Radioactive Material

Additional Information

Site Survey

Navigation

Vehicle Equipment

Elevators

Science Supplied Equipment

Hazardous Material

Additional Information

Checklist

United States (New Orleans, LA)

United States (Gulfport, MS)

Master:  R/V ATLANTIS
Attn:  Scientist's Name - AT26-12
Fillette Green Shipping Services (USA) Corp.
261 N. Conception Street
Mobile, AL   36603

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 1842
Mobile, AL   36633
Phone:  (251) 375-2224
Fax:  (251) 432-6813
TELEX: 3772415 FGSS USWG
Email: mob@fillettegreen.com

Contact:  Jason Halischak
Cell:  (251) 232-1659

Shipments of up to 200 lbs may be sent to the address above.  All shipments over 200 pounds should be scheduled to arrive while the ship is in port and directed to the address below.   The agent must be notified of all shipments.

Port of Gulfport address:
Master:  R/V Ship Name
Atten:  Scientist's Name
Mississippi State Port at Gulfport
30th Avenue South Extension West Pier
Gulfport, MS   39501

WHOI NOTE:  Agent and WHOI contacts should be copied on all communications.  It is requested that shipping information of any equipment be communicated to the Agent and WHOI contacts.

Checklist