The captain and crew greeted me with this phrase multiple times when I arrived at USM’s R/V Point Sur this afternoon, as we set to sail on a three day research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico.
R/V Point Sur docked at the Port of Gulfport in Gulfport, MS.
During this cruise, we will use the ROV Odysseus (Pelagic Research Systems) to study the microbiology and mineralogy of corrosion near the World War II era shipwreck Anona. Anona, first discovered in 1995, will be the setting for two new long term corrosion experiments, that we hope to place on the seafloor, using the ROV’s manipulator arms. We also hope to obtain new video footage of tube worms observed on the wreck in 2014 as part of the GOM-SCHEMA study.
The ROV Odysseus on the stern of the R/V Point Sur.
As for myself, I have settled in quite nicely. The living and working quarters aboard a ship may be cramped, but they are cozy!
My bunk (in the chief scientist’s cabin!) aboard the R/V Point Sur.
I am thrilled to be on my first research cruise, and am eager to do some science at sea. Stay tuned for more updates!
RLM
HamdanLab 