OCEAN EXPLORERS Notes

• The Research Vessel, Bering Explorer was brought in to provide a stable platform for dive operations to seal a leaking sunken ship. Fog and ice bergs threatened the expedition however a three point anchoring was accomplished precisely over the GPS coordinates. Support craft were used to fend off the ice bergs until the highly successful dive operation was complete. After many sleepless 24 hour work shifts, the dive team got to enjoy a well deserved hot tub and sauna on the top deck during the return to Whittier. This dive project was a mielstone in how oil spill hazards from smaller (65 foot) will be handled. Many groups with different operational policies came together to pull this successful oil containment operation together.
• The Landing Craft, Arctic Wolf has been working in the Aleutian Islands and in Prince William Sound.
• The M/V Pacific Star has fulfilled it's charter schedule which will take it to spectacular Prince William Sound.
• The F/V Robby is undergoing an interior upgrade, call for availability.
• Several other large vessels with unique attributes are being added to this seasons roster, state your job requirements and get a customized bid with the most approprate vessel tuned for the expedition.
• The Ocean Explorers Land Rover is a Long Wheel Base Series II. It has been restored and sports a new deep blue paint with Land Rover Defender wheel arch flares and a new interior. It is the twin to Ocean Explorers' other original spec. Series II 109 Land Rover based in Jackson Hole.
• The Bering Responder has been a tremendous success by all standards. It is a high speed 21' Landing Craft that allow a great deal of flexibility when working in conjuction with larger vessels.
• Ocean Explorers was called upon to locate a downed Helicopter. Captain Henry Tomingas headed the operation and located the wreckage in a matter of days.
• The Mary J. was transported to Deadhorse and from there it made the journey to the mouth of the MacKenzie River and returned in September
• A film of the Vanguard Oil Spill Dive Project was shown at the Eastman-Kodak Film Festival. An MPG or Video is available, contact [email protected]
  

EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS

• It's Not All Work:

  The Brothers Tomingas took the Bering Explorer on a refurbish shakedown cruise after completing the oil containment dive operation. Their 10 and 8 year old daughters Persis and Alicia swam and waterskied in the ocean, stood on icebergs and caught a 200+lb. Halibut.

• Phosphorous Zooplankton in Katchemak Bay

  The Brothers Tomingas took a 3:am skiff ride the entire length of Katchemak Bay to view the incredible display put on by the plankton. "The wake of the aluminum skiff looked as though it had suddenly set down on tarmac at high speed, bright phosphorous sparks sprayed out into the black night setting the sea afire where ever they landed" said Byron. Henry commented "Every now and then we would hit a dense pocket of plankton, and the back of boat would explode in a black light strong enough to cast a shadow", Byron added "Absolutely stunning".

• The Commute To and From Work

  Float planes are still one of the most exciting ways to commute to work on an Oceanographic Research Vessel, come to think of it, most of being aboard a research vessel on an expedition is generally exciting all of the time.

  We were waiting for my plane from Jim Air to arrive to take me off of the Bering Explorer, the gray sky in Prince William Sound was beginning to drop lower and the seas were picking up. Suddenly, out of the clouds he dropped and pulled off a perfect landing in rough seas.

  The Float Plane casually idled around in back of the Bering while Captain Dennis spun the ship around to level the sea. The pilot cut the engine at about 30 feet and coasted right up to the back deck.

  We crept along the planes pontoon, tossed my stuff aboard and grabbed some hasty pictures. And we were off, the pilot yelled, "It's going to be a bit of a rough take off". And it was, did you ever see "Never Cry Wolf"? This had the same feel but with a state of the art float plane, waves of water feel like hard concrete when taking off in a float plane.

  We skimmed low over the myrade of enchanting moss green and orange islands and fjoirds, coming up over mountains and sweeping back down into another valley of mists and ocean amongst the fjiords. The big finale' came when we climbed up over Portage Glacier and then dropped down into Turnagain Arm. Regular day for the Pilot, thrilling adventure for this guy. Now this is my idea of a work commute! BPT