PhD Candidate, Miriam Goldstein, sprays the manta net after conducting a tow, forcing captured critters and debris down to the ‘cod-end’ of the net. The last manta net tow of the cruise was conducted today. Image courtesy of NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program. Download larger version (jpg, 190 KB).
On board personnel are busy making preparations to come into port, and shortly afterwards, winter dry dock. Operations continue to run smoothly as the ship's crew conducts routine training and maintenance. The last manta net tow of the cruise was conducted this evening. Today's manta net results suggest Okeanos Explorer has left the Pacific "Garbage Patch". The ship completed its last of 3 time changes today, bringing it up-to-speed with the West Coast. We expect to arrive in San Francisco tomorrow morning.
