Journals 2009/2010

Aundrea Rue
Carolina Forest High School, Myrtle Beach, SC

"NOAA Hydrographic Survey of the Pavlof Islands, Alaska" NOAA R/V RAINIER July 27 - August 7, 2009

Journal Index: July 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 August 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

August 2, 2009
Back on Tour

Today I was not scheduled for any specific duty so I tried to learn more about the RAINIER. I got a tour of the engine room today. I learned that the ship actually uses its own boilers to fuel the desalination of seawater via distillation. As you may recall, one of our boilers caused our delay in port. It is still not operational however there is another one that has done a fantastic job since we left Kodiak. The broken one will be repaired soon after we return to Kodiak.

I went into the part of the ship called after steering, where the rudders are housed and mooring lines are stored. I was comforted in learning that, in case the normal steering malfunctions, there are two back-up methods of steering the ship ready and waiting.

I was then taken to one of the coolest places onboard - literally. I was shown where the chill box (refrigerator) and freezer are that can store months worth of food. I was pleased to see that there was plenty of food left for the remainder of the cruise!