WET-NZ Ocean Testing 
at the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center 
Issue: # 2
August 10, 2012
perfect day

Greetings from Oregon!   As we move into the weekend, preparations continue full steam ahead for the WET-NZ deployment. There's no sign of slowing anytime soon, and we'll continue to send updates as we move forward.  Because these updates are intended for internal team communications only, please do not forward outside your organization.  However, if there is someone you would like to include on the distribution, please let us know and we will add them to the list.

 

Best Regards form your Deployment Team:

 

Justin Klure            Steve Kopf            Patrick Branje

PowerPod Arrives in Oregon
Crew Begins Integration with Hull

 

After a long journey from New Zealand, the WET-NZ Power Pod arrived at the Port of Toledo last night.  Today, we will be offloading it from the truck and begin the process of integrating it with the Hull.  Once attached to the Hull, a team from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) will begin installing their instrumentation which will allow us to monitor critical performance parameters during ocean testing.  Our goal is to have the major assembly complete by Monday and ready for a dry test next week.  

 

PowerPod hoist

Meet the NRC Quest
Ready for Deployment Day NRC Quest

 

The NRC Quest, stationed in Astoria, Oregon, is primarily used as a fast response oil spill recovery vessel. Over the next two weeks, however, she will be configured as a wave energy system deployment vessel. At 159-ft in length, 400-tons in displacement, and 1500 horses, she is more than ready for the job!

 

 
 
Quest Winches  
Captain Rich Cruse will command the Quest for our deployment, which will begin with mobilization in Astoria next week. Once a weather window opens up, the Quest will transit from Astoria to the project site off the coast of Newport.  In addition to Captain Cruse, NRC's Director of Marine Operations Rob Huston, and an experienced team of engineers, equipment operators and shipmates will be onboard to execute the deployment plan.
Weather Outlook
Return to a NW Flow

Newport Coast  

Yesterday marked an end to the docile conditions we had earlier in the week.  As predicted by the National Weather Service, the afternoon seabreeze kicked in strong with winds at the Newport station recording a steady 20 knots with gusts to 25, kicking up a nice 3 to 6 ft wind chop on the water. This morning the wind has subsided, but, as is typical for a summer seabreeze, it is expected to return this afternoon.  
 
The long range forecast is for this pattern to continue through early next week. The seabreeze by itself does not necessarily limit our ability to deploy the WET-NZ.  Our real concern is an ocean swell, created by low pressure disturbances hundreds or thousands of miles away. The long range forecast is for a weak disturbance to affect the area by Tuesday of next week, bringing a 6 ft swell.  By Monday, we should have a better forecast and be able to plan for the next 'weather window'.
Please note that these updates are intended for team use only, so please do not forward outside your organization.  If there is someone you would like to include on the distribution, please let us know and we will add them to the list.
Today's Updates
PowerPod Arrives
Meet the NRC Quest
Weather Outlook
 
Recent Updates
 
National Weather Service Synopsis

High pressure in the eastern Pacific and a thermal trough over northern California will strengthen through Friday evening. The thermal trough is expected to shift a bit northwestward on Saturday. This will result in strengthening north winds and steepening and building seas through Friday evening in the southern waters and through Saturday evening in the northern waters. This general pattern of gusty north winds and steep to very steep seas is expected to persist through the early half of next week.


Ocean Conditions
NOAA Buoy
Station 46050 
20 nm West of Newport
Wave Ht 6 ft
Avg Period 5.3 s
Wave Dir WNW

 

Wind Sp 17.5 kts
Gusts 21.4 kts
Wind Dir N

Air Temp 59.4 F
Pressure 30.15

 

Water Temp 58.1 F