The US Coast Guard Cutter Healy wrapped up a few days in Dutch Harbor, AK, and has departed on the 2010 ICESCAPE cruise. ICESCAPE stands for Impacts of Climate change on the Eco-Systems and Chemistry of the Arctic Pacific Environment, and the central science question of this program is, “What is the impact of climate change (natural and anthropogenic) on the biogeochemistry and ecology of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas?”. From 15 June through 21 July the Healy will be conducting science operations for this project before returning to Dutch Harbor. Then we'll board on 1 August for a 2 August departure on our International Continental Shelf Survey cruise.
The US Coast Guard Cutter Healy approaches Dutch Harbor, AK on 12 June 2010.
It was interesting watching the Healy in Dutch Harbor. In front of the Healy's berth was a floating drydock. It looks like a big empty ship with the bow missing. If a major repair is needed, the floating drydock sinks down so most of it is underwater by flooding ballast chambers with water. Then the ship needing repairs enters the floating drydock and is tied up securely. Pumps empty the compartments of the flooded floating drydock and it slowly floats the ship and itself all the way up out of the water, allowing repairs below the waterline of the stricken vessel. When all is ready, it again sinks from underneath the repaired ship which can then ease out of the floating drydock and go on its way. I saw this on an episode of Deadliest Catch, when a crab boat accidentally bent its propeller on a rock and needed fast repairs in Dutch Harbor while the limited season was underway. The show said the repairs amounted to $50,000- no small change!
US Coast Guard Cutter Healy at dock in Dutch Harbor, AK. Note floating drydock in berth beyond Healy's bow.
Yesterday a small work crew built some kind of scaffolding on the bow of the Healy. Note the bow crane in action in the picture below, loading stuff from the dock. Then you'll see the gray parts of the structure laid out on the deck for assembly. In the last picture you can see the ship departing the Alutians with the bow structure in place. Maybe the webcam will give more clues to its purpose in the coming days and weeks. I wonder if it will be kept for our cruise, too??
The Healy's bow crane in action, loading cargo at dock in Dutch Harbor, AK.
Pieces of the bow scaffolding structure (gray) visible on the bow, ready for assembly.
The Healy departs on the 2010 ICESCAPE cruise. Note bow scaffolding structure now in place.
That's all for now. Best- Bill