Deployment Cruise (2011)
The 2011 ACO deployment cruise was an eventful expedition that had the excitement and drama
of a Hollywood movie. The cruise began on May 20th, 2011 aboard the University of Hawaii
research vessel, R/V Kilo Moana. Twelve days of the eighteen day cruise were allocated to the
deployment of the ACO and four days allocated to a Ka'ena Ridge survey.
Practically every second of the twelve days allotted to the ACO were used (see timeline of ACO
events below). Much of the time was spent trying to solve extreme and unexpected challenges,
mainly associated with the configuration (from shore) of the sea cable. The Junction Box, JBOX
for short, (which converts fiber-optic communication signals to electrical Ethernet between the
Observatory and the cable termination) had to be lowered and brought back to the ship multiple
times to try different configurations that would match the sea cable.
It wasn't until the final Jason dive (nine hours before the ship had to return to Honolulu) that the
ACO "saw light." This tremendous achievement was the result of outstanding performance and
professionalism by personnel at sea and on shore.
- Cruise plan
- Cruise report
- Cruise participants
- Videos and photos
- Blog
- Jason virtual van (Click on 2011, km1116, then virtual van)
(Click below for further information on specific dates.)
