Yesterday, the Crew and Science team gathered on the flight deck for a mission photo. Arctic gear was authorized and the Science team wore our bright orange Mustang suits. The wind was incredible, gusting to 40 knots...I felt as though I would be blown away. The sky was beautiful and it was a nice photo opportunity!
Mission Photo - the Crew of USCG Healy and the Science Team
Science has been going slowly...we have run into complications and set-backs. We have been experiencing trouble with the winches. Several times in the past few days, they have locked up with equipment in the water. The CTD was in the water for 3 hours, and the Bongo net was over the side for nearly 5 hours. When it was recovered, it was so full of mud from dragging the bottom that it ripped at the collar. Both of these operations typically take minutes in shallow water. The Video Plankton Recorder (VPR) slammed against the stern of the ship during a winch mishap. Hopefully, things will improve as we head towards the Bering Strait.
Now for some TRIVIA...Where did the USCG Cutter Healy get the name HEALY??
Captain Michael A. Healy was the fifth born child of Michael Morris Healy, an Irish plantation owner, and his wife Mary Elisa Smith, a former slave. He was born in Macon, Georgia in 1839. He had 9 siblings who distinguished themselves in their careers, a University president, a priest and nuns. Healy was not interested in school and by the age of fifteen, he was a cabin boy aboard the American East Indian Clipper JUMNA. He quickly became an expert seaman and rose to the rank of officer on merchant vessels.
Captain Healy - photo courtesy of United States Coast Guard
In 1864, he applied for a commission in the United States Revenue Marine and was accepted as a Third Lieutenant. After several years on the East Coast, Healy began his lengthy service in the Alaskan waters aboard the cutter RUSH. For more than 20 years Healy commanded vessels from San Francisco to Point Barrow. He acted as judge, doctor, and policemen to Alaskan natives, merchant seamen and whaling crews.
Healy was a man before his time...his actions echoed the mission of the Coast Guard nearly a century before it's formation. Healy was known for protecting the natural resources of the region, suppressing illegal trade, resupplying remote outposts, enforcing the law, and search and rescue. Healy regarded "Science" as an important part of his mission and made voyages with reknowned naturalist John Muir and introduced reindeer to the native populations as a way of providing food, clothing and other neccessities.
USCGC HEALY (WAGB 20) was constructed by Avondale Industries in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her keel was laid on September 16, 1996. She was delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard and placed "In Commission, Special" on November 10, 1999. The ship departed New Orleans on January 26th, 2000, arrived in Seattle on August 9th, 2000 and was placed "In Commission, Active" on August 21st, 2000.
USCG Healy in Ice - photo courtesy of United States Coast Guard
On another exciting front....today we ALSO saw RUSSIA! Our first station in the Bering Strait had us very close to Big Diomede and Little Diomede Islands. Big Diomede on the right side of the image is a Russian island and Little Diomede on the left side of the image is an isalnd of the United States.
Little Diomede on the left and Big Diomede on the right
Question of the Day
So....can YOU answer the question?? What do I, Ms. Rose, have in common with Captain Michael A. Healy??
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mohandas Gandhi