News
Ship Time Request System
The UNOLS
Organization finalized the Ship Time Request System in 2006-07,
renewing the process for scientists to request specific research
facilities and instrumentation. It has smoothed the Ship Scheduling
process for vessel operators, funding agencies and users. Click
here to access the STR System. http://unolsweb.cms.udel.edu/strs/Public/diu_login.aspx.
Explorer of the Seas Automation Project
The University of
Miami has worked with the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas
cruise liner since October 2000. With changes in science funding, a
new type of instrumentation has been integrated in order to
continually monitor the ocean on this ship of opportunity. With a
weekly ocean track for travelers that varies between an eastern and
western Caribbean vacation on a bi-weekly basis, the opportunity to
monitor Sea Surface Temperature and Salinity, chlorophyll, and
other chemical properties of ocean water and atmospheric conditions on a continual, annual
scale is immeasurable.
The Marine
Technology Group has been working along with Dr. Peter Ortner,
Physical Oceanographer at RSMAS to finalize the plans for
installation of a virtual computer system, new state-of-the-art
instrumentation and a flow-through system which collects seawater
while the cruise vessel is underway. A complete new programming
suite will accompany the physical components, which will require
minimal maintenance.
For more information about this project from Royal Caribbean
Cruise Lines, visit the website:
RCCL Outreach and Achievements
Or, you may visit the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School
page about updates:
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/rccl/
New Marine Superintendants at both
FAU/Harbor Branch and University of Miami/RSMAS
The Marine
Technology Group is under new upper-level management. Both
institutions served by the Group have recently had changes to the
Directors of Marine Operations. The University of Miami’s new
Director is Capt. Richard Kniffin who returns to the University of
Miami. He once mastered the R/V Calanus and served when the R/V
Walton Smith was first commissioned in February 2000. He will begin managing the
day-to-day operations of the
R/V F.G. Walton-Smith this April 2009.
Many changes have
occurred at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in the past 18
months. Not only was Harbor Branch acquired by Florida Atlantic
University in January of 2008, but the institution boasts a new
Director of Technical Operations. William Baxley arrived to the
campus with his expertise from U.S. Naval Operations. His newly
designed position oversees both the former divisions of Marine
Operations and Ocean Engineering. Mr. Baxley has also headlined a research expedition
or two himself with science funding from the Office of Naval
Research. The
recombination of 9 former divisions into two major "Centers" formed the “Center of Ocean
Exploration” headed by Mr. Peter Tatro, and Megan Davis directs the
newly formed "Center of Coastal Research". These Centers were formed
to combine smaller divisions, allowing for me inter-department
communication, collaboration and sharing of equipment, supplies and
most importantly - ideas!
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