Okeanos Explorer (EX1810): ASPIRE to Map the Extended Continental Shelf - 2018 (EM302). Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), XBT and CTD casts in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for real-time ship-to-shore communications. Operations are planned south east of Bermuda in the high seas.

Okeanos Explorer (EX1807): ASMIWG Bermuda Mapping - 2018 (EM302). EX-18-07, from July 12 to August 4, will be the first dedicated government non-transect survey in support of the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance/Atlantic Seabed Mapping International Working Group (AORA/ASMIWG). AORA/ASMIWG was established by the Trilateral Galway Statement Implementation Committee to identify steps required to implement a seabed mapping strategy to support the objectives of the Galway Statement. As the first U.S. lead mapping effort in support of Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation, EX-18-07 will include onboard and remote participation from Canadian and European Union students and scientists.

Singlebeam Collection for EX1805: East Florida Mapping (Telepresence) (EK60). From May 22 - June 6, 2018, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer conducted mapping operations 24 hours per day using the ship's state-of-the-art suite of sonars focused on mapping the seafloor, the water column, and the sub-seafloor. This was the first part of the two-part Windows to the Deep 2018: Exploration of the Southeast U.S. Continental Margin expedition intended to increase our understanding of the deep-sea environment along the southeast United States. This is the first NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer expedition that will contribute to NOAA’s Atlantic Seafloor Partnership for Integrated Research and Exploration (ASPIRE), a major multi-year, multi-national collaborative field program focused on raising collective knowledge and understanding of the North Atlantic Ocean. Mapping operations were focused offshore Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, in the South Atlantic Bight – and more specifically, the Blake Plateau – over some of the least explored areas along the U.S. East Coast. The data collected during the expedition provides baseline information in unknown and poorly known deepwater areas of the southeastern United States and will directly support remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dive planning efforts for the second part of this expedition, as well as the ongoing National Oceanographic Partnership Program’s Deep Sea Exploration to Advance Research on Coral/Canyon/Cold seep Habitats (DEEP SEARCH) project.

Okeanos Explorer (EX1806): Mid and Southeast US (ROV and Mapping) - 2018 (EM302). Operations will include the use of the ship's deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), XBTs in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, CTD casts, OER's two-body ROV Deep Discoverer and Seirios, and the ship's high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous real-time ship-to-shore communications. Operations are planned throughout the South Atlantic Bight, offshore Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. This expedition will contribute to NOAA's Atlantic Seafloor Partnership for Integrated Research and Exploration (ASPIRE)

Okeanos Explorer (EX1906): Southeast US and Bahamas, Leg 1 (Mapping) - 2019 (EM302)

Okeanos Explorer (EX1902): 2019 Field Season Shakedown (EM302). The expedition will commence on May 12, 2019 in Pascagoula, Mississippi and conclude on May 24, 2019 in Key West, Florida. Operations are planned in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico along the edge of the west Florida escarpment and off the coast of Key West, FL. Shakedown of ROV equipment will include a calibration of the ultra short baseline (USBL) positioning system, testing of a new suction sampler device, and three ROV engineering dives. Mapping shakedown will focus on calibrating the EM302 multibeam sonar (including backscatter calibration), calibrating the EK60/EK80 sonars, installing and testing the new Kongsberg K-Sync device, and troubleshooting the UnderwayCTD (UTCD) with the manufacturer's representative. Some testing may also be completed on the ship's dynamic positioning (DP) system. This expedition will be divided into 3 transit legs: May 12 - May 18, May 18 - May 22, and May 22 -May 24 (separated by small boat transfers). The first small boat transfer is needed to transfer off ROV Team members and to transfer on mission personnel needed to support EK60/EK80 calibration and Kongsberg equipment testing. The second small boat transfer is needed to drop off the Kongsberg technician and pick up a Teledyne technician.

Water Column raw (level-0) files (.wcd)

Okeanos Explorer (EX1907): Mid and Southeast US (ROV and Mapping) - 2019 (EM302). This expedition will contribute to NOAA's Atlantic Seafloor Partnership for Integrated Research and Exploration (ASPIRE), a major multi-year, multi-national collaborative field program focused on raising collective knowledge and understanding of the North Atlantic. This campaign provides timely, actionable information to support decision making based on reliable and authoritative science. It also serves as an opportunity for the nation to highlight the uniqueness and importance of these deepwater environments. ASPIRE builds on the momentum of past U.S. campaigns and international initiatives to support ecosystem-based management of marine resources.

Water Column raw (level-0) files (.wcd)

Water Column raw (level-0) files (.wcd)