With the Ocean Sentinel installed and WET-NZ mobilization underway, final deployment day draws near, and we'll continue to keep you posted on our progress with updates every step of the way. In case you missed it, check out the Recent Updates to see what's been happening over the last few days.
Best Regards from your Deployment Team:
Justin Klure Steve Kopf Patrick Branje
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Ocean Sentinel Installed
Deployment Executed Successfully
After outfitting the Ocean Sentinel with its final components, NNMREC launched the device from the Port of Toledo on Friday afternoon. Led by Deployment Operations Manager Walt Waldorf and Test Berth Manager Sean Moran, the team used a travel lift to launch the Ocean Sentinel into the water, and it was transported to the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center by tug. On Sunday, the Pacific Storm towed the Ocean Sentinel to the project site.
Once connected to the mooring system, the NNMREC team conducted tests to ensure the device was properly positioned and configured. Installation was complete after series of at sea tests to check the operation and integration of all the on-board systems, including power dissipation, shore communications, and backup storage. The commissioning tests were successful, and the Ocean Sentinel is ready for the WET-NZ!
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WET-NZ Set to Launch 
Anchors Loaded, Mobilization Underway
Final preparations of the WET-NZ were completed at the Port of Toledo over the weekend, and the device is almost ready to launch. To ensure sufficient water depth, the launch is scheduled for high tide this afternoon, which is at 3:30pm PDT. Once it's in the water, Wiggins tug will transport the WET-NZ to Newport to await deployment later this week.
On Saturday, the WET-NZ anchors, surface floats, and mooring lines were loaded onto the NRC Quest. The deployment vessel departs for Newport today and is scheduled to arrive early tomorrow morning, with installation of the anchors set to commence on Tuesday.
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Meet the Divers
Underwater Crew Plays Key Role in Deployment
An important design feature of the WET-NZ is the integral ballast tanks. Prior to deployment, the tanks are filled with air so that when the device is launched it will float on its side, making it easier to tow. Once the WET-NZ is in position at the project site, the tanks will be flooded with water, causing the device to turn upright. To accomplish this, an underwater crew will dive beneath surface to open the WET-NZ ballast valves and allow them to fill with water.
For the WET-NZ deployment, we've teamed up with Orca Divers, an Oregon based company with over 20 years of experience in industrial diving and marine construction. The Orca dive team, led by Roger Hermansen, visited the Port of Toledo a few days ago to check out the WET-NZ device and review the installation procedures with the rest of the deployment team.
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Regional Forecast
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Weak high pressure remains over the waters today. High pressure offshore gradually strengthens Tuesday through the end of the week. This will lead to increasing winds, especially over the southern outer waters starting Tuesday afternoon. A thermal trough develops near the Oregon coast late Tuesday into Wednesday resulting in moderate to strong winds and steepening seas... Most hazardous over the southern waters through the end of the week.
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Ocean Conditions
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Station 46050
20 nm West of Newport
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8:50 AM PDT
Wave Ht 1.6 ft
Avg Period 6.5 s
Wave Dir WSW
Wind Sp 3.9 kts
Gusts 5.8 kts
Wind Dir E
Air Temp 55.2 F
Pressure 30.06
Water Temp 58.1 F
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