A request is made to fund new and replacement instrumentation on the R/V Endeavor, a 185' general purpose research vessel operated by the University of Rhode Island as part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) research fleet.
The R/V Endeavor is a well-equipped, intermediate sized research vessel that is owned by NSF and operated under a Charter Party Agreement by the University of Rhode Island. The vessel was built in 1976 and refit in 1993. She can carry up to 17 scientists on cruises up to 30 days in duration. The vessel supports projects from all disciplines of oceanography. In 2012, R/V Endurance completed 215 days at sea. NSF funded projects accounted for 123 days or 57% of the total sailing schedule. In 2013, R/V Endeavor is scheduled for 205 days with NSF days accounting for 54% (111 days) of the total sailing schedule.
Oceanographic instrumentation requested in this proposal includes
MC-800 Multicorer $37,515 Upgrade of CTD Connectors and Cables $35,212 $72,727
Broader Impacts
The principal impact of the present proposal is under criterion two of the Proposal Guidelines. They provide infrastructure support for scientists to use the vessel and its shared-use instrumentation in support of their NSF-funded oceanographic research projects (which individually undergo separate review by the relevant research program of NSF). The acquisition, maintenance and operation of shared-use instrumentation allows NSF-funded researchers from any US university or lab access to working, calibrated instruments for their research, reducing the cost of that research, and expanding the base of potential researchers.
Funds were requested to purchase connector and cable upgrades for our three Sea-Bird Electronics company (Sea-Bird) 911+ CTD systems. Specifically, it was proposed to replace all underwater cables and connectors on all underwater components with Teledyne Impulse brand MCBH type connectors. This style connector has been recommended by Sea-Bird as a higher priced, optional upgrade on new CTDs since 2003. The awarded funds were in fact used to replace all cables and connectors on our CTD systems. These upgrades will help ensure the reliability and usability of our primary oceanographic sampling systems by reducing required maintenance and minimizing failures and downtime; thus maximizing on station efficiency and increasing the productivity of the ship. URI maintains three Sea-Bird 911+ CTD systems that are between 14 and 20 years old. They have been very well maintained and upgraded as required so as to remain compatible with current standards of accuracy, reliability and usage. Funding of this request helped ensure these workhorse instruments will remain robust, reliable instruments with modern and preferred cabling. The value of the upgrade is minimization of down time caused by both subtle, long term corrosion, and by sudden connector failure due to the difficulty of removing and re-mating the old style connectors. According to Sea-Bird, corrosion on the old style connector pins is a common cause of noisy and intermittent data as well as channel and whole instrument failure during CTD casts. The problem with the old style connectors is that they do not exclude water when mated so that a bit of salt water can enter the connector and corrosion can begin. This equipment upgrade has enhanced the scientific infrastructure of the University of Rhode Island and the R/V Endeavor. Investments in the scientific capabilities of the ship benefit the science community as well as enhancing sea-going education and research of undergraduate and graduate students and interns. This equipment resides in our shared-use equipment pool and provides a cost effective resource for researchers to access specialized pieces of equipment that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive to include in individual research proposals. Funds were requested to purchase connector and cable upgrades for our three Sea-Bird Electronics company (Sea-Bird) 911+ CTD systems. Specifically, it was proposed to replace all underwater cables and connectors on all underwater components with Teledyne Impulse brand MCBH type connectors. This style connector has been recommended by Sea-Bird as a higher priced, optional upgrade on new CTDs since 2003. The awarded funds were in fact used to replace all cables and connectors on our CTD systems. These upgrades will help ensure the reliability and usability of our primary oceanographic sampling systems by reducing required maintenance and minimizing failures and downtime; thus maximizing on station efficiency and increasing the productivity of the ship. URI maintains three Sea-Bird 911+ CTD systems that are between 14 and 20 years old. They have been very well maintained and upgraded as required so as to remain compatible with current standards of accuracy, reliability and usage. Funding of this request helped ensure these workhorse instruments will remain robust, reliable instruments with modern and preferred cabling. The value of the upgrade is minimization of down time caused by both subtle, long term corrosion, and by sudden connector failure due to the difficulty of removing and re-mating the old style connectors. According to Sea-Bird, corrosion on the old style connector pins is a common cause of noisy and intermittent data as well as channel and whole instrument failure during CTD casts. There is a wealth of anecdotal evidence from Endeavor cruises that bolstered this assessment. The problem with the old style connectors is that they do not exclude water when mated so that unless meticulous care is taken when connections are made, a bit of salt water can enter the connector and corrosion can begin. One might think that this problem is simply one of ensuring proper procedures for making and breaking connections. Unfortunately (1) the awkward angles and tight spaces of today’s tightly packed CTD frames often only allow very difficult access to connectors, (2) the design of the old style connector, even in the best of circumstances, hinders proper cleaning and lubrication of the connector pins and finally, (3) connectors are often re-mated on deck while exposed to wind, rain, sea spray and salt water running across the deck. This equipment upgrade has enhanced the scientific infrastructure of the University of Rhode Island and the R/V Endeavor. Investments in the scientific capabilities of the ship benefit the science community as well as enhancing sea-going education and research of undergraduate and graduate students and interns. This equipment resides in our shared-use equipment pool and provides a cost effective resource for researchers to access specialized pieces of equipment that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive to include in individual research proposals.
