The NOAA SHIP OSCAR ELTON SETTE is currently on a Protected Species Investigationcruise in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. We are resupplying and setting up field camps on the remote islands of the Hawaiian island chain.

Field Biologists occupy these camps for months at a time monitoring Hawaiian monk seal and bird populations. They have to bring plenty of water, food and supplies to support them for the duration. The ship uses it's small boats to ferry people and equipment from the ship to the island. It takes most of a day to offload each island's gear. This cruise we stopped at Tern, Laysan, Lisianski, and Midway islands, Pearl and Hermes Reef, and Kure Atoll.

In addition to the supply run, we collected meteorological and oceanographic data on the ship 24 hours a day with instruments mounted on the ship. We also stopped to conduct 10 CTDs to support the Hawaiian Ocean Mixing Experiment. This project studies the effect of the Hawaiian ridge on the oceanographic characteristics of the Pacific Ocean.

This cruise has been a terrific success. Partly due to great weather we had during the whole cruise, we were able to complete each island offload quickly. We had time to do all 10 CTD stations. The ship makes better time in calm seas as well. The major factor though is the quality of the people involved - ship's crew, and scientific party alike.