The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) team cleans the winch, getting the grease off it to prevent grit and dirt from building up during the time the vehicle is not being used in between ROV cruises. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 Laulima O Ka Moana. Download larger version (jpg, 13.5 MB).
Mapping Watchstander, Neah Baechler, edits recently acquired multibeam data in the control room on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 Laulima O Ka Moana. Download larger version (jpg, 12.5 MB).

Transit to Honolulu

July 30 - August 1, 2017

After completing our final remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dive on July 29, the ship spent the night completing mapping coverage of the seamount we dove on and then started her more than 600 nautical mile journey back to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The mapping team has been busy during our three-day return transit, acquiring and processing multibeam sonar data of the seafloor and water column, subbottom profiler data beneath the seafloor, and EK60 single beam fisheries sonar data. The ROV team is preparing equipment and systems for the time they aren’t being used in between ROV cruises, working on data products, and updating standard operating procedures. Others on the mission team will be busy finalizing datasets, compiling end-of-cruise products, developing reports, and troubleshooting issues that could not be addressed during the cruise. We are nearing completion of the longest cruise of the year and all onboard are looking forward to wrapping up the expedition, getting back to land, and enjoying some well-earned time off.