The view from the back deck of the Reserch Vessel Melville, looking toward the bridge. We are prepared for every circumstance with not an inch of deck space to spare. Click image for larger view and image credit.
A life ring on board this research vessel in a country I call Melville. Click image for larger view and image credit.
The Country Called Melville
April 27, 2006
Lori Savage
Educator at Sea
Rogue Community College Instructor
The experience of a lifetime lay ahead of me, and though my trip had started nineteen exhausting hours before, I was ecstatic when we stepped off the plane into the Guam International Airport. Our skin instantly became a magnet for clothes as the hot sticky air outside of the terminal permeated our every fiber. To me the feeling was comforting, because I've had many memorable travels in tropical climates. This was confirmation that the adventure had begun.
What an honor I'd been given. A chance to get involved with hands-on ocean science, work with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), CTD's, mapping technologies, scientists and also visit two exotic ports of call. These were my expectations, and they all were to come true, all except that last one. I was short sighted, and since then have found out that there are actually three exotic ports involved in this adventure, the third one is the country I call Melville.
Yes, Melville is the name of our research vessel, but within its cool steel walls, open decks and long corridors are two diverse, exciting communities: the scientists and the crew.
From the beginning it was apparent to me that the science community was a bit strange. Their dialect hinted at it: "The Mariana intraoceanic arc is prime habitat for extremophiles as determined by nephelometric, temperature and sulfide indicators." But when the actual experiments began, my suspicions were confirmed. If you think about it, how many people do you know that would actually want to park their brand new luxury automobile directly next to potentially active volcanoes and watch what happens? (The Jason ROV is much more valuable than any auto!) And as if that wasn't enough, they proceed to prod the volcanoes and poke things into them, as if to tempt the volcano gods. I just hope they don't start throwing in sacrifices to get more action out of them. No doubt the teacher would be high on the list of expendable personnel.
The scientists on board use the remotely operated vehicles appendages to prod the volcanoes and poke things into them, as if to tempt the volcano gods. Click image for larger view and image credit.
The crew and scientific party have proven to be a jovial bunch, especially at meal time. Click image for larger view and image credit.
The ship's crew community has taught me a few things as well. Now I know that a 3rd mate hasn't necessarily been married three times, and "going to the head" doesn't mean you're conceited. Even though they confound me with sentences like, "Go tell the AB, he's port side on the steel beach," the crew has proven to be a jovial and very helpful bunch. They get along well with intruding communities, and even at hours of the night when our bodies aren't designed to be awake much less working, they are quick to smile or share a joke. It is obvious that they are dedicated to this country called Melville, bar none.
These communities are governed by ultimately dictatorial entities, are bound by common laws (safety first!), and thrive on teamwork. The communities have a common language base, but have different dialects, different goals, but are all headed in the same direction. Together they make up Melville.
Scientists and crew work together. Here they successfully deploy the ROV for yet another dive. Click image for larger view and image credit.
Another beautiful sunset over the country I call Melville. Click image for larger view and image credit.
As I sit starboard watching the sun gracefully exit the aqueous stage, below scientists and crew again work together. Successfully they lower the ROV for yet another dive. I wonder how much of the Melville culture of which I have been immersed, will rub off on me?
Sign up for the Ocean Explorer E-mail Update List.
