Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring. The RHIB from the NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER will secure a line to the buoy.

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring. The RHIB confronting the tsunami buoy in a temporary stand-off.

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring. While circling the buoy a photo opportunity arises to capture a picture of the ship and buoy while this shot is taken from the ship capturing the RHIB and buoy .

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring. A line is secured to the buoy for reeling into the ship.

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring. Using the stern capstan to reel in the buoy.

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring. The buoy is approaching the stern of the FAIRWEATHER as it is being reeled in. The relative motion is a combination of the ship backing and the buoy being reeled in on the capstan.

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring. The size of the buoy is becoming apparent as it the distance between the ship and the buoy is reduced.

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring. The buoy is now up under the stern and the A-frame is moved out to lift the buoy .

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring. The buoy is being lifted out of the water and onto the deck of the FAIRWEATHER.

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring. The chief boatswain on the FAIRWEATHER directs deck operations during securing of tsunami buoy.

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring.

Tsunami warning buoy recovery. This buoy had broken free from its mooring.

NOAA Ship OSCAR DYSON underway.

Northern gannets (Morus bassanus) and a few seagulls flanking the DELAWARE II in the Gulf of Maine.

NOAA Ship ALBATROSS IV on Georges Bank.

NOAA Ship ALBATROSS IV with trawl out astern.

NOAA Ship ALBATROSS IV with trawling into the sunset.

NOAA Ship ALBATROSS IV with trawling into the sunset.

NOAA Ship ALBATROSS IV with trawling into the sunset.

NOAA Ship DELAWARE II underway.

Marine mammal observer at work on the NOAA Ship DELAWARE II.

Looking astern while cruising along the south shore of Maui on the NOAA Ship OSCAR SETTE.

CTD instrument in cage ready for deployment on the NOAA Ship OSCAR SETTE.

Spray on a boisterous day in the Gulf of Maine on the NOAA Ship DELAWARE II.

Spray on a boisterous day in the Gulf of Maine on the NOAA Ship DELAWARE II.

Scientists and curious crew inspect treasures from the deep brought up by a bottom trawl on the NOAA Ship DELAWARE II.

Scientists and curious crew inspect treasures from the deep brought up by a bottom trawl on the NOAA Ship DELAWARE II.

An EdgeTech SB 0512 combination sidescan sonar and bottom penetration sonar towfish being deployed from the DELAWARE II during habitat mapping operations.

An EdgeTech SB 0512 combination sidescan sonar and bottom penetration sonar towfish being deployed from the DELAWARE II during habitat mapping operations.

An EdgeTech SB 0512 combination sidescan sonar and bottom penetration sonar towfish being deployed from the DELAWARE II during habitat mapping operations.

Recovering a GoMOOS buoy in cooperation with the University of Maine Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System.

Recovering a GoMOOS buoy in cooperation with the University of Maine Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System.

Recovering a GoMOOS buoy in cooperation with the University of Maine Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System.

Recovering a GoMOOS buoy in cooperation with the University of Maine Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System.

Recovering a GoMOOS buoy in cooperation with the University of Maine Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System.

View from the pilot house of the NOAA Ship DELAWARE II at sunset.

View from the pilot house of the NOAA Ship DELAWARE II at sunset.

Looking over the bow of the NOAA Ship DELAWARE II approaching Bar Harbor, Maine.

A large wave towering astern of the NOAA Ship DELAWARE II.

Water sampling and CTD operations on the NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER.

Preparing to tow Bongo Nets off the NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER.

Water sampling and CTD operations on the NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER.

Looking astern of the NOAA Ship OSCAR DYSON. Wind waves caused by ever present trade winds.

One of the safe boats on the NOAA Ship OSCAR DYSON used for transportation from ship and near shore and shallow water operations.

Coxswain Huntley operating a small inflatable boat off the NOAA Ship OSCAR DYSON .

Hand-tinted photograph of Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship PIONEER.

Lieutenant Jon Swallow on the bridge of the NOAA Ship RAINIER on a foggy day. Ensign Holly Dehart standing by the chart table.

Cleaning bottom sampling device after deployment on the NOAA Ship WHITING.

Bridge watch on the NOAA Ship WHITING

Alidade mounted on gyrocompass repeater for taking bearings. Appears to be at sunrise offshore from Boston. By observing azimuth of sun at sunrise and sunset and comparing to pre-computed values, gyro-compass error can be determined.