Journals 2003/2004

John Langella
East Providence High School, East Providence, Rhode Island

We are still in transit toward Istanbul.

I started a "who's who on the Knorr" photo list to help identify people and their roles.

I worked various jobs with ROV technician team and scientists. Todd and Sarah have educated me much about the purpose and role each ROV or sensing apparatus will play.

Todd Gregory shows how Hercules' manipulators work then puts me to work building Hercule's "hand" tools made from softballs and stainless steel. ROV claws are better at grasping round objects that have some 'give' than flat or cylindrical hard objects. Who knew that softballs have a use thousands of feet underwater!

I spent time this afternoon with Jeremy Weirch, a side scan sonar expert from NOAA. He explained how side scans work and we go over how to interpret the images.

Toward evening we enter the part of the Mediterranean called the Dardanelles. We can see Greek and Turkish islands on either side of us. We pass Gallipoli, the site of a famous WWI battle. It is interesting to be traveling through a region, so rich in history, with historians and archeologists. I listened and absorb a lot just in conversations at the rail as we watch the shorelines.