NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson

10/05/2022

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson completed the journey from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.

This trip involves transiting eight locks, that travel the height great than that of Niagara Falls. Did you know that the bottom of Lake Erie is above the surface of Lake Ontario?

The ship will be in Lake Ontario for the next week for data acquisition outside Oswego, NY; before continuing the transit through the Saint Lawerence Seaway and back to Norfolk, VA.

Here the ship enters Lock 7, with Hydrographic Assistant Survey Technician Danielle Black, Chief Bosn Bernard Pooser, Ablebodied Seaman Joshua Thompson, and Ensign Forrest Foxen on the bow to handle lines and anchor as needed.

[Photo credit: Lieutenant Michelle Levano, NOAA]

09/30/2022

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson has arrived in Cleveland for its final inport of the season. The crew worked hard over the last few weeks to complete survey operations in Lake Erie and wrap up our DriX project.

We are now preparing the ship for our 2,255 nautical mile transit through Lake Ontario, the Welland Canal and it’s 8 locks, Saint Lawrence Seaway including 7 more locks, and the transit around Nova Scotia and down the Atlantic Ocean to arrive home in Norfolk, Virginia at the end of October. We are excited to begin our journey and thank everyone for their continued support of our operations!

Our last public tour opportunity is tomorrow! If you are interested in a tour of the ship, email [email protected] with the amount of people in your group and we can set up a time for you to visit.

Photo credit: Ensign Cara Geiger, NOAA

09/29/2022

Hydrogrpahic Survey Technician Sarah Thompson and Operations Officer Lieutenant Michelle Levano are at Northwestern Michigan College this week for Lakebed 2030 conference.

They will be presenting on NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson’s work, and supporting NOAA’s fantastic work throughout the Great Lakes region.

At the student round table tonight, we will be representing both NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Come stop by!

09/27/2022

What is everyone in this photo doing? Every quarter the ship’s crew completes an Escape From Quarters drill.

This involves drill involves two person teams, one who is blind folded and one who ensures the blind folder crew members safety. Every person must make their way from their state room, to the exterior of the ship blindfolded!

Practicing scenarios like this helps NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson crew stay prepared in case there is ever an emergency onboard!

[Photo Credit: Lieutenant Michelle Levano, NOAA]

09/26/2022

Great Lakes Now | Finders, Keepers |

We were so happy to have the Great Lakes Now news team out with us! Thank you for the great production and being such a great team to work with

09/24/2022

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson has two, two-way data packet data service which operates between mobile earth stations, and land earth stations.

These two devices are part of the ships Global Maritimr Distress and Safety System (GMSS) and passes maritime safety information to the bridge teams. Information often includes chart, security, and weather updates. Especially during hurricane season, these printers are very busy! The crew onboard hopes that everyone afloat and onshore are taking the necessary precautions throughout hurricane season.

Turn sound on for a throw back to the unique sound of a dot matrix printer! Does anyone know why the lights are red in this space?

[video credit: Lieutenant Michelle Levano]

09/21/2022

Did you know that in addition to 15 ships, NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations also operates 9 aircraft that conduct scientific research?

NOAA's King Air aircraft (N68RF) did a flyby of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson yesterday! Both assets were doing coastal mapping work in Lake Erie.

N68RF was collecting coastal mapping imagery of ports such as Erie, PA; Cleveland, OH; and Buffalo, NY. NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson has been collecting bathymetric data for charting and benthic habitats since April throughout Lake Erie, covering over 10% of the US portion of the lake.

The pilots onboard were Lt. j.g. Alejandro Amezcua (left seat, driving), Lt. Cmdr. Colleen Conley (Aircraft Commander of the flight), Lt. Linda Junge (scientific operator).

Our survey launch (TJ 2903) was out acquiring survey data around Avon Point and got these great photos!

Photo Credits:
Hydrographic Assistant Survey Technician Kevin Suarez, NOAA
Seaman Surveyor Patrick Osborn, NOAA
Ensign Cara Geiger, NOAA
Lieutenant Michelle Levano, NOAA

09/19/2022

The ship has been performing 36 hour DriX operations, meaning every other day only the ship is performing operations at night.

This is a perfect chance to collect samples of the lake bed! Information from these “bottom samples” are collected to inform mariners and scientists on anchorage locations and marine habit locations.

Here, Ensign Cara Geiger and Hydrographic Survey Technician Sarah Thompson, collect bottom samples during the 0400-0800 watch. What type of lake bed do you think they pulled up?

[Photo credit: Lieutenant Michelle Levano, NOAA]

09/18/2022

Yesterday, DriX successfully completed 24 hours of surveying alongside the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson! DriX surveyed over 79 linear nautical miles throughout its day and night operations and returned with a 52% fuel level, only using 32 gallons of fuel. To compare, the Hydrographic Survey Launch typically uses 60-90 gallons of fuel based on an 8 hour survey day. Today, DriX will commence 32 hours of operation alongside the ship to continue expanding the amount of coverage we get on our survey sheets!

Photo credit: Ensign Louis Castillo, NOAA

09/16/2022

Will you be at Lakebed 2030? Two members from NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson will be there to present on our work in Lake Erie and Detroit River this year

The Lakebed 2030 Conference is happening from September 28-30 - just two weeks away!

The Lakebed 2030 Conference will highlight work done by NOAA and Coast Survey partners in the Great Lakes to advance comprehensive mapping in the region in 2022. Coast Survey's Director is also a featured keynote speaker and panelist!

The conference is hybrid, offering virtual and in-person options. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/2p8dj4j2
Find full event schedule and learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/yc7zktrk
Read more about NOAA's 2022 work in the Great Lakes here: https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/updates/noaa-focuses-on-the-great-lakes-for-the-2022-field-season/

09/14/2022

This weekend, NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson had the pleasure of hosting Teacher at Sea (TAS) Laura Grimm and her students for a tour. Laura sailed with us earlier in the year through the NOAA Teacher at Sea Program and wanted her students to learn more about the ship and it’s day to day operations. Even when we are in port, there is plenty of work to keep the crew busy and provide a great opportunities for learning experiences. Thank you to Ensign Forrest Foxen for hosting the tour as Officer of the Day!

Photo credit: Ensign Forrest Foxen, NOAA

09/08/2022

This week we have hit the ground running with our DriX project by conducting plenty of pilot training for all of our DriX operators! Since DriX is an autonomous vehicle, crew members and officers aboard worked together alongside representatives from iXBlue to learn how to operate DriX manually from a control box. All of this training is preparing the crew for DriX to be deployed and complete extended survey operations over the next few weeks, increasing the amount of coverage we achieve while finishing surveying Lake Erie!

Photo credit: Ensign Louis Castillo, NOAA

09/05/2022

Happy Labor Day from the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson! Our crew has been busy working on our second to last leg of the season by wrapping up survey operations in Lake Erie while simultaneously working on our new DriX project. We have learned how to successfully deploy and recover DriX, how to improve our communication skills between the DriX team and the bridge, and how to effectively troubleshoot problems with DriX as they arise. We look forward to continue sharing our DriX operations with you over the next month!

Photo credit: Ensign Cara Geiger, NOAA

09/02/2022

DriX transmits its location, speed, and course via Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). Through this system, other ships and shoreside individuals can track DriX to ensure safe navigation on the waterways. AIS is just one of the tools DriX uses to keep everyone safe.

[Photo Credit: Lieutenant Michelle Levano, NOAA]

09/01/2022

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson would like to introduce you to, DriX!

DriX is an Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) that is able conduct remote controlled and supervised autonomous operations from NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. This USV is just over 25 feet long, and fits into one of the ship’s Hydrographic Survey Launch davits. The unit has the same sonar system as the launches, and will be utilized in a similar fashion.

DriX will be underway with the ship for the month of September working outside Cleveland, OH. The uncrewed vehicle will be monitored by multiple shipboard personnel and operated during daylight hours until September 9, 2022. After that, DriX will be operated both day and night in unison with ship survey operations.

Follow along to learn more about DriX and NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson’s mission!

[Video Credit: Lieutenant Michelle Levano, NOAA]

08/31/2022

We were so glad to host Japan Coast Guard Officer Chiaki Okada during out survey operations in Lake Erie!

08/29/2022

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson’s social media managers were on leave last leg for some well deserved rest. The ship and remote launch party accomplished a wide range of survey operations from Erie, PA to Detroit, MI!

We are back aboard now, and making preparations onboard for a very special project for the ships last month in Lake Erie.

Any guess on what the project maybe?

08/24/2022

Photos from NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations's post

08/04/2022

POV: You just deployed from the ship on TJ2904 at the mouth of the Detroit River with four crew members, three computers and lots of spare parts for a remote survey project in Detroit River! You take one last look back at the ship, who you won’t see again for 20 days.

NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson dropped off hydrographic survey launch, TJ 2904, at the mouth of the Detroit river this morning. The boat crew will make the roughly 30 linear nautical mile transit to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit where they will be meeting up with NOAA Coast Survey’s Navigation Response Team-New London.

Together, the two boats will be collecting data in the Detroit River for 20 days. The ship will continue working the Approaches to Cleveland and outside of Erie, PA.

[Photo Credit: Hydrographic Senior Survey Technician Chloe Arboleda]

08/02/2022

Last cruise, we had NOAA Teacher at Sea Program Laura Grimm out with us. Laura’s closing blog post was comparing “R/V” or Research Vessel, verse “RV” or Recreational Vehicle. Check out this post, and Laura’s other posts!

08/01/2022

Both the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson and Hydrographic Survey Launches 2903 and 2904 have been enjoying early morning boat deployments and the beautiful views that Erie, PA has to offer. Over the past week, the ship has conducted survey operations offshore Presque Isle while the launches have surveyed more shallow, variable areas and gotten to explore spots that have been reported for recent shoaling. The ship has completed its work for this leg and is now anchored while the launches continue to deploy before the sun rises and recover shortly before dinner time.

Next week, the ship will transit to the mouth of the Detroit River to drop off Launch 2904 to complete their Detroit Field Party project over the next month! Launch 2903 will stay with the ship to continue surveying near Cleveland and Presque Isle.

Photo credit: Ensign Cara Geiger, NOAA

07/27/2022

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is back underway for Cruise 6 our Great Lakes project! There is a good amount of small boat acquisition that remains outside of Erie, PA.

To make maximum use of day light and local boating traffic, we are running “early boats”. The maintenance, survey, and boat crews need to be ready for deployment at 0600. Are you a morning person, or a night person?

Here, Acting Chief Survey Technician Chloe Arboleda and Acting Operations Officer Lieutenant Sydney Catoire are handling lines as Hydrographic Senior Survey Technician Audrey Jerauld readies the forward boat hook to deploy 2904.

[Photo Credit: Lieutenant Michelle Levano, NOAA]

07/22/2022

While going into shore to pick up more parts for our ship, our Hydrographic Survey Launch crew decided to stop in and say hello to our friends at U.S. Coast Guard Station Erie! Pictured here is Ensign Forrest Foxen, Ensign Louis Castillo, and Hydrographic Survey Technician (HST) Sarah Thompson onboard the station’s 45 Response Boat Medium with their crew. We are looking forward to working alongside Station Erie during the rest of our time here in the Lakes.

Photo credit: Ensign Forrest Foxen, NOAA

07/20/2022

Photos from U.S. Coast Guard Station Erie's post

07/19/2022

We would like to give a big NOAA shoutout to the local USCG small boat unit in Lake Erie for taking the time to pick up critical parts needed for our davit and deliver them to us via small boat alongside. Because of this, we were able to fix our starboard side davit and can now deploy Launch 2903 to conduct near shore surveying outside of Presque Isle. Thank you U.S. Coast Guard Station Erie!

Photo credit: Lieutenant Michelle Levano, NOAA

07/17/2022

The International Code of Signals, Publication 102, went into effect on April 1, 1969. This publication combined visual signaling and radio telegraphy into one document. The codes listed in this publication help ships send messages regardless of communication barriers for a variety of situations.

Here, Ensign John Brostowski and Able Seaman Evan Kinnett review Morse code. The windows on the bridge make for excellent white boards!

How does their code look? Any guesses on what this deck log says?

[Photo Credit: Lieutenant Michelle Levano, NOAA]

07/14/2022

Every week, the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson conducts fire and emergency drills to stay proficient in responding to emergency situations while underway. The ship has two fire teams that dress out in appropriate gear and respond to the scene following instructions from the bridge. This week, we simulated a fire drill in the ship’s paint locker. Within minutes of the drill being rung off, both Fire Team 1 and Fire Team 2 reported to their stations, reported muster, dressed out, and were ready to report to the scene.

Pictured here from left to right is Junior Unliscenced Engineer (JUE) Mike Pienta and Oiler (O) Elliot Blewitt from Fire Team 1, the ship's first response team for this leg. Here, they are practicing energizing the water hose after responding to the scene.

Afterwards, the crew had a detailed debrief discussing ways to improve and making critical updates to ensure everyone is prepared in the event of an emergency!

Photo credit: Ensign Cara Geiger, NOAA

07/12/2022

We are busy collecting multibeam data 5 nautical miles North of Presque Isle near Erie, PA- but here some throwback photos from our Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) operations when the ship was anchored outside of Cleveland.

We use UAS to capture photos the NOAA's Coast Pilot publications and for public relations images. All of our Pilots in Command need to have their FAA Part 107 license, and training from the UAS manufacturer.

UAS Pilots: Hydrographic Senior Survey Technician Audrey Jerauld; Ensign Forrest Foxen, NOAA; and Hydrographic Assistant Survey Technician Sophie Caradine-Taber

07/10/2022

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson would like to give a big congratulations to Lieutenant Michelle Levano for earning her SWO qualification! SWO stands for Senior Watch Officer, meaning that Michelle has now achieved the skills required to maintain a competent navigation watch under a wide variety of conditions. She has successfully handled the ship under many different operations and evolutions, including docking, undocking, anchoring, picking anchor, and operating the ship with back up steering. Michelle is now competent in the ship’s environmental compliance, stability, and engineering and is qualified to be a deck boss for survey launch operations. Completing all her sign-offs and passing an oral examination board, Michelle earned her SWO letter by executing a man overboard recovery with the ship. Congratulations on your major accomplishment!

Photo credit: Commander Lecia Salerno, NOAA

07/09/2022

We will have to pick up some of these stamps next time we stop at the sea buoy!

Coming to a mailbox near you... 📬

The US Postal Service and NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries are excited to announce the release of the , in celebration of the nation’s underwater treasures during our 50th Anniversary.

The new Forever are now available for preorder.

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2022/0622ma-explore-the-beauty-of-marine-sanctuaries-through-forever-stamps.htm

(Image description: Pane of national marine sanctuary Forever stamps over a blue background)

(Credit: Art director Greg Breeding designed the pane using existing photographs. A map of the National Marine Sanctuary System illustrated by Todd M. Detwiler is printed on the back of the pane. The stamps include photographs taken by Daryl Duda, Michael Durham, Mark Sullivan, Peter Turcik, Norbert Wu, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees Wendy Cover, Jeff Harris, Elliott Hazen, Joseph Hoyt, Ed Lyman, Greg McFall, Matt McIntosh, G. P. Schmahl and Kate Thompson)

07/07/2022

On Fourth of July, the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson conducted flare training exercises using expired flares we had onboard. Flares are used as a distress signal to attract attention to others that are within visual range if your vessel was in distress and needed assistance. After contacting the local United States Coast Guard station and warning nearby vessels via VHF Channel 16, our crew lit off 15 red meteor aerial flares and 12 red signal and orange smoke flares. Pictured here is Lieutenant Michelle Levano and Seaman Surveyor Pat Osborn lighting off red signal flares and seeing just how bright they can get! We also ensured to use proper protection during our training by wearing gloves while holding the flares and sunglasses to protect our eye sight.

Photo credit: Ensign Forrest Foxen, NOAA

07/04/2022

On Friday, July 1, Thomas Jefferson wrapped up our fourth cruise working Approaches to Cleveland, OPR-W386-TJ-22. During this leg we reached the 6,800 linear nautical miles of lake bed surveyed milestone!

The ship got underway on Monday, July 4th to kick off cruise five, and is headed out to work around Presque Isle near Erie, PA.

Check out our progress on this project so far!

07/03/2022

Oktay was aboard Thomas Jefferson for our last cruise, check out his blog postings to learn more about his time underway!

06/30/2022

Please give a big Thomas Jefferson congratulations to Ensign Cara Geiger on earning her Underway Officer of the Deck and Fast Rescue Boat Coxswain qualification!

Ensign Geiger has undergone a wide variety of training and check offs that she has needed to complete to get to this point. This includes answering a series of questions from the command and department heads.

Her qualification letters were attached to “Oscar” the ship’s man overboard training float. Ensign Geiger needed to retrieve Oscar to get her qualifications!

[Photo Credit:  Lieutenant Michelle Levano, NOAA]

06/29/2022

Aside from surveying and training, the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson spent some time this week improving the exterior of the ship! Our crew deployed the 1717 utility boat to do preservation work on the hull and inspect areas for future work. The coxswain carefully maneuvered around the ship while Acting Boatswain Group Leader (BGL) Pat Osborn painted spots to repair and prevent from further corrosion. One of our newest officers, Ensign Louis Castillo, even got some training time driving the 1717 and learning how it maneuvers at various speeds!

Photo credit: Ensign Cara Geiger, NOAA

06/25/2022

NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson has a special visitor sailing with us this leg, Teacher at Sea Oktay Ince! Oktay is the first Teacher at Sea to sail on a Great Lake and is already learning about the variety of operations we have aboard. Some of the things Oktay has done so far include learning about survey operations on the ship through standing a survey launch, participating in drill day, and riding along on the hydrographic survey launch to collect side scan sonar and multibeam data.

We are so happy to have Oktay with us and teach him about what we do on a daily basis! Oktay is currently writing a blog that highlights his experience so far and gives you an insight into what it's like to be aboard the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson while we are underway. You can read more about Oktay's blog here: https://noaateacheratsea.blog/author/oince2022/

Photo credit: Ensign Cara Geiger, NOAA

06/22/2022

Over the weekend, the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson kept busy by facilitating multiple tours, including a fifteen-person tour to the Toledo Power Squadron. We are so excited to share what we do with locals in the area and build relationships with other organizations. The tours were hosted by our Officer of the Day as well as our Executive Officer and multiple junior officers. Thank you to everyone that came out to learn about our operations!

Are you part of a group local to that would like to come aboard for a tour? If so, send us an email at “[email protected]” and we would be happy to host you!

Photo credit: Ensign Cara Geiger, NOAA

06/21/2022

Happy !

06/20/2022

Did you know Thomas Jefferson's Approaches to Cleveland project (OPR-W386-TJ-22) spans from the Lake Erie Islands to Erie, PA?

The ship is making preparations to get underway for our fourth leg of this project, check out our progress so far!