July 4, 2015: Leg 1 of the Cabled Array, VISIONS’15 expedition is now underway. Under blue skies, the R/V Thompson departed the University of Washington, School of Oceanography dock at 0700. For the next ~ 1.5 days, this global class research ship will transit through Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan de Fuca, then turn to port and head down the WA-OR coast to work at a site at the base of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, ~130 km west of Newport Oregon. Once out of the Ballard locks, the ship stopped to conduct testing of the navigation system for the remotely operated system (ROV) ROPOS. The morning was spent with a safety meeting where all personnel donned immersion suits and learned about safety protocols. The immersion suit practice, as always, was a fine opportunity for “a Kodak moment.” A ‘dunk’ test of the vehicle was also completed to insure all systems were operational prior to steaming far offshore. At about 5 pm, the Thompson began its transit – everybody onboard is anxious to begin operations!
