National Marine Sanctuaries: Hunt for the Alligator

2004 Hunt for the Alligator Expedition Log for Thursday, August 26, 2004

Aboard Navy YP Boat 679
Dan Basta
Director,National Marine Sanctuary Program

National Marine Sanctuary Program Director, Dan Basta, and the Director of Research for the Institute for Exploration Dwight Coleman review side scan data. (Photo: Kate Thompson /NOAA)
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My eyes were heavy as I continued to fight sleep. It is now 2 PM in the afternoon, and we have been at it since 4:30AM. There is a certain weariness that creeps-in, as a combination of the rolling of the vessel, and the stupor created by the constant attention to the monitors, affects us all. Everyone aboard, therefore, feels similarly, but all carry on in good humor.

This is the hard part of exploration at sea, that is routine searching and searching for the one hit on the sonar screen or the magnetometer screen, that revives everyone, and brings them back to life. This is a good team, and it always amazes me how mostly strangers come together as smooth working parts when at sea. There is a respect among all of them, and a caring that touches everyone and ensures that each person gets what they need. A bantering humor is also part of the bonding that takes place.

The Alligator is a very small target, in a very large ocean. The searching will take time. Mostly because of these factors, and also because operations at sea are inherently problematic. We have had a hard time to diagnose problems with our principal ROV, and the technicians work around the clock to solve them– they especially are fighting sleep. Weather at sea is always variable. And today is like any other day: some wind, some rain, and periodic high seas. Searching for shipwrecks, especially the Alligator is not for the timid, nor the impatient. Good shipmates make for good cruises. This cruise for the Alligator is a very good cruise. Tonight, I get off the ship and head back. But I am sure my colleagues and shipmates who stay behind will continue this hard work for days to come. Good hunting!

Michael Overfield Chief Scientist/Archaeologist

The scientific staff and crew members mustered on the aft deck of the YP at 4:00 a.m. to go over the Plan of the Day (POD). The POD provides and outline of both time and events which are to occur during the days cruise. The development of the plan involves the Captain of the YP, the Chief Scientist, Media coordinator, and education coordinator. The plan does not provide exact times when events are to occur, but rather hours allocated for each of these tasks to be executed. To reach the search area today takes us a little over 3 hours to reach. Survey lines were designed with 100 meter line spacing and survey lines _ nautical miles in length. A total of 7 nautical miles were surveyed in the afternoon with several contacts made. Data collected will add to that already collected and analyzed. The return 3-hour trip brought us back to port at 7:20 pm.

David Clark
Science Channel Producer

Captain Kevin Harbison right, and mates Rick Meisenheimer left, and John Carson on the bridge of the Office of Naval Research afloat lab, YP-679. (Photo: Kate Thompson /NOAA)
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We boarded the Office of Naval Research vessel in Ocracoke harbor at 4:00 am for our science and safety briefing. By 5:00 am we were underway for a three-hour trip out to our hunting grounds. Our Discovery Science Channel team is here to film the search for the “Alligator”, the first submarine built for the US Navy during the Civil War and lost at sea in a storm while being towed of the Outer Banks.

The Science Channel is producing a one-hour documentary about this unique submarine that has been almost lost to history. We are documenting a magnetometer, side-scan sonar, and remote operated vehicle (ROV) search for this lost sub. The expedition is a joint project between NOAA, and the Office of Naval Research.

So far today we’ve encountered choppy seas and few heavy rain squalls but the seafloor search with sonar is progressing well and already of few unknown targets have been identified and will be further investigated.

When the Science Channel film, “Hunt For The USS Alligator” airs in the last quarter of 2005 we hope to illustrate the fascinating story of this federal sub that pioneered many of the technologies used in modern subs today. Whether the sub is found soon or not at all, it is a story known to few and well worth telling.

Tom Nutter
COMSUBLANT
Special Programs Manager

Alligator Project Manager Catherine Marzin and National Marine Sanctuaries Education Coordinator, Michiko Martin get ready for the ship to leave the dock. (Photo: Kate Thompson /NOAA)
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I appreciate the opportunity to go to sea and be part of the Alligator search, albeit a small part. Being at sea, witnessing first hand the dedication and enthusiasm of the scientists and professionals tells me the Alligator will be found.

Whether Civilian scientists, or military, Mother Nature has ways to treat us all equal, weather and tides impact us in the same way. Coming out, watching the mobilization on deck, demonstrated the professionalism involved. It appeared as if it was rehearsed, but talking to the individuals on deck it was the first time some of them had worked together. The commercial off the shelf equipment used for this type of science certainly lend itself to this hunt– portability, ease of handling and cost. That said it has to work! The PC Side Scan Sonar produced what appeared to be an excellent quality sonar record.