The Hatteras left Gulfport last night around 2000 to head back out into the Gulf of Mexico for a short cruise to deploy sediment traps. There are two gentlemen from Wood's Hole and two other who are onboard to take pictures and video of the cruise. Early this afternoon we arrived on station to deploy the first sediment trap. First we did a couple survey lines using our 3.5 kHz echosounder to see the contour of the seafloor, as well as the depth. After the correct location was found each piece was lowered over the stern using the crane, line, cable, chain, and cleats on deck. A yellow metal sphere was lowered into the water. This float marks the location on the surface. A thousand pound weight is used to anchor the trap to the sea floor. An acoustic release is located between the weight and the trap. Once they are ready to retrieve the sediment trap in a couple months a transducer is lowered into the water to "talk" to the acoustic release. The transducer will send a signal to disconnect from the weighted anchor.
In the image above, the yellow funnel looking instrument is the sediment trap. It has a number of bottles at the bottom that rotate every couple of weeks to open another bottle. Above the sediment trap is a quick release, then the hook of the crane. The weights that anchor the instrument are the round objects on the left and right side of the picture.
So far we have not seen any oil but our next station is near the well head.
Weather: mostly cloudy, 82 degrees, winds 2 knots, seas 2 feet, some passing thunderstorms today