Anchors Set, Device Installed
WET-NZ, Ocean Sentinel Connection Underway
As soon as the WET-NZ ballast tanks were filled and the divers had secured the valves, the NRC Quest was back in action, repositioning the second mooring leg to create tension in the system. At 1115, the Quest started deployment of third and final leg of the mooring system. The seas remained calm throughout the process, and deck boss Kyle Sparrow and winch operator Bjorn Sollid made quick work of completing the mooring installation. With full tension on the third leg, the subsurface floats - which were floating - are now submerged to a depth of 9 meters, providing the desired vertical force in the mooring system.
On the Pacific Surveyor, a group of Newport area fishermen joined us on the water to witness the deployment. At the helm of the fishing vessel was Al Pazar, Chairman of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission and an active member of Fishermen Involved in Natural Energy. Al was a great help in identifying local resources for our deployment, and we're excited to see him out here today.
Now that the WET-NZ is installed, NNMREC begins the process of deploying the umbilical cable, which will connect the wave energy device and the Ocean Sentinel instrumentation buoy. Stay tuned for more updates later today.
A special thanks to Grant Snyder from Wiggins Tug and Barge for his extra effort this morning. Off the dock at 0530, he arrived at the site almost an hour early. That hour will be much appreciated later in the day! We're proud to have him on our team.
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