In preparation for the 3-day journey to Maui Nui, our student team has spent two days training and familiarizing ourselves with the Falkor. We started on Wednesday with an introduction from the captain and crew and from there we got a full tour of the vessel. We learned our way to the library, gym, sauna, and a mess hall fully stocked with snacks. Clearly we will be well taken care of on this cruise.
During our tour of the ship, the team going out on the first leg learned the procedures for deploying the magnetometer, one of the key tools we’ll be working with, and the location of the science control room where the data will be collected and monitored 24/7. Both chief scientists, Rob Dunn (leg one) and Glenn Carter (leg two), gave an overview of what will be expected for each cruise.
Leg one departs Honolulu on Friday for three days mapping a submerged structure located just southwest of Kaho‘olawe, thought to be part of the volcanic Maui Nui rift zone. Over the next couple of days we’ll tell you all about what we’ll be doing to identify Maui Nui’s submerged structure, which remains a little mysterious.
Rob Dunn’s geophysics class from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, along with a few graduate students from the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology department, will be in Falkor’s control room continuously monitoring the data being collected and making sure the equipment is working properly. Pairs of students will be on watch for four hours at a time. During the off hours, we will have the opportunity to help deploy equipment, attend guest lectures, and experience life at sea.
The crewmembers wrapped up our first day on Falkor by preparing a BBQ at the outdoor lounge. We were able to interact with fellow scientists and crewmembers over a delicious meal and a beautiful Hawaiian sunset.
