RA-3 boat is dwarfed by Sawyer Glacier at the head of Tracy Arm

A night view from the bridge of huge waves and spray during a nasty Gulf of Alaska storm.

The RAINIER sits peacefully alongside the NOAA Ships JOHN N. COBB, MILLER FREEMAN, AND FAIRWEATHER at NOAA's Pacific Marine Center.

Lieutenant Mark Wetzler, the RAINIER Navigation Officer, takes a look from the bow of RA-2 while threading its way through the ice. Survey tech Sandy Zirnheld looks on from inside the boat.

Float coats with reflecting strips are part of the safety gear used by NOAA ship personnel.

Happy crew members as the RAINIER approaches Lake Union ship base at the end of a long surveying season.

Securing the bow of the RAINIER as the ship ties up for the last time at the end of the 1999 field season

The RAINIER crew are good neighbors to the Seattle community as they partake of the Combined Federal Campaign.

Launch approaching NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN with marine turtle aboard for genetic sampling and tagging.

Launch alongside NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN with marine turtle aboard for genetic sampling and tagging.

Launch alongside NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN passing marine turtle aboard for

NMFS scientists studying and tagging marine turtle aboard NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN.

NMFS scientists studying and tagging marine turtle aboard NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN.

NMFS scientists studying and tagging marine turtle aboard NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN.

MD500 taking off from NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN for marine mammal studies.

MD500 taking off from NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN for marine mammal studies.

MD500 taking off from NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN for marine mammal studies.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN as seen from MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN as seen from MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN as seen from MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN as seen from MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN as seen from MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean. Launch is used as additional vessel for studying marine mammals.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN as seen from MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN as seen from MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean. White specs are from marine mammals breaking the surface of the water.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN and MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN and MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN and MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN and MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN anchored off Island near Colombia.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN and MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN as seen from MD500 helicopter during marine mammal studies in the tropical east Pacific Ocean.

Lieutenant Debora Barr flying MD500 at San Benedicto Island with NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN below.

NOAA Ship DAVID STARR JORDAN with MD500 helicopter aboard.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship LYDONIA.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship BACHE.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship BACHE.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship BACHE.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship BLAKE.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship BOWIE dressed for the 4th of July.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship BOWIE with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship DISCOVERER.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship DISCOVERER.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship EXPLORER.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship EXPLORER.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship EXPLORER.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship EXPLORER at anchor.

Survey launch on the EXPLORER being picked up at the end of a survey day in the Pribilof Islands. Launch OIC is passing boat sheet to ship.

Various depth-recording devices on right and navigation gear on left. In the plot room of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship EXPLORER.

Bridge of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship EXPLORER

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship FATHOMER