Rescued!

Today, we were able to assist scientists from Rutgers University by rescuing one of their gliders. A glider is a torpedo-looking device which flies through the water using buoyancy to drive its propulsion and measures properties of the ocean (e.g., temperature, salinity). These systems can be programmed by a user to carry out missions to examine a remote part of the ocean without a ship. But, sometimes they don't go as planned...

The zodiac was deployed from the starboard side (right as one looks forward) of the vessel, and a crew of four boarded it to go look for the glider at its last reported GPS position.

After a short ride to the picturesque coast of Cape Renaud and a little searching, the search party recovered the glider and brought it back to the ship.  Dr. Reide Corbett, Chief Scientist and search team member from East Carolina University and the UNC Coastal Studies Institute, reports that it was sitting on a rocky ledge of a small island about 1 m above sea level.  It was damaged some, but mostly intact.

Although ship time is expensive, and we did not have to divert our time for this endeavor; it was the right thing to do as the marine community depends on this kind of good-natured assistance. We are glad we were able to find the glider and know the Rutgers scientists are too!  Another excellent job completed by the talented crew of the Gould!(picture of Chance, MT)

Mission accomplished.
J.P.