Pollywog following a bath in three day old bubble bath during equator crossing ceremonies on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333)

Shellback helping cleanup pollywogs during equator crossing ceremonies on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333)

King Neptune meting out royal justice on a pollywog during equator crossing ceremonies on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333)

Flair drills to train personnel in igniting flairs in case of emergency on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333)

Bow of the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333) tied up at Pohnpei, Chuuk.

NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333) tied up at Pohnpei, Chuuk.

NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333) underway in Pohnpei, Chuuk.

NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333) underway

Wearing fire proof suit during simulated helicopter operations on NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333)

Operating area of the NOAA Ship PISCES in the Gulf of Mexico. No shortage of obstructions to navigation.

NOAA Ship PISCES safety stand-down emphasizing slips, trips, and falls. Next image (ship1760) expands on the concept.

Addenda to NOAA Ship PISCES safety stand-down emphasizing slips, trips, and falls adding the possibility of sacks, hurries, and knockdowns. Safety is a serious issue on ships but occasionally irreverence creeps in.

A few contacts showing up on the radar screen emphasizing the difficulty of navigation in parts of the Gulf of Mexico oil fields.

Numerous contacts on the radar at the Deepwater Horizon disaster relief site.

A view of the proximity of oil field work vessels from the bridge of the NOAA Ship PISCES during operations at the Deepwater Horizon oil spill site.

A view of the proximity of oil field work vessels from the bridge of the NOAA Ship PISCES during operations at the Deepwater Horizon oil spill site.

A view of the proximity of oil field work vessels from the bridge of the NOAA Ship PISCES during operations at the Deepwater Horizon oil spill site.

A view of the proximity of oil field work vessels from the bridge of the NOAA Ship PISCES during operations at the Deepwater Horizon oil spill site.

The engine room control panel of the NOAA Ship PISCES.

Although electronic charts are used, the officer of the deck is maintaining a separate paper chart plot of navigation.

Helmsman steering the NOAA Ship PISCES on course directed by the officer of the deck.

Radar scope view of Deepwater Horizon site during oil spill operations. Most targets are stationary.

Launching rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) off of NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333)

Preparing to launch rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) off of NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333)

Rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) off of NOAA Ship PISCES underway

NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333) seen from ship's boat during buoy operations.

NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333) seen from ship's boat during buoy operations.

NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333) seen from ship's boat during buoy operations.

NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333) seen from ship's boat during buoy operations.

Bridge of NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333)

Dinner on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333)

The NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA (R333) at the fuel pier.

Literally sailing into the sunset on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA

Buoy operations on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA

Buoy operations on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA

Buoy operations on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA

Preparing an instrument package on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA

Preparing an instrument package on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA

NOAA Ship HI'IALAKAI

NOAA Ship OSCAR ELTON SETTE underway

NOAA Ship OSCAR ELTON SETTE underway

Track of NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA during buoy operations

Buoy operations on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA

Literally sailing into the sunset on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA

Buoy operations on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA

Hydrographic operations with a navigation response team on Passamaquoddy Bay

View of the stern of the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA while underway

NOAA Ship FERDINAND R. HASSLER

Lieutenant Commander Chris Van Westendorp, on loan from the NOAA Ship THOMAS JEFFERSON, during shakedown cruise on the NOAA Ship FERDINAND R. HASSLER.

Lieutenant Commander Ben Evans operates propulsion controls on the port bridge wind of the NOAA Ship FERDINAND R. HASSLER.