The MILLER FREEMAN in a little weather in the North Pacific.

The SURVEYOR stuck in the ice in the Beaufort Sea.

The SURVEYOR stuck in the ice in the Beaufort Sea.

The SURVEYOR proceeding through a lead in the ice.

Rescue ice breaker on the way to the SURVEYOR.

Emptying a small trawl onto the sorting table - Photo #2 of sequence. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Emptying a small trawl onto the sorting table - Photo #3 of sequence. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Emptying a small trawl onto the sorting table - Photo #1 of sequence. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

CTD - Conductivity, temperature, depth and water sampling instruments being deployed. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Scientist measuring fish. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Scientist measuring fish. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Scientists sorting and measuring the catch. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Shoveling fish from the sorting table into baskets for further study. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Shoveling fish from the sorting table into baskets for further study. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Working on deck with nets and trawl gear. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Helping sort the catch prior to study by scientists. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Towed net used to capture plankton. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Towed net used to capture plankton. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Bongo nets deployed for capturing plankton. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Bongo nets, used to capture plankton, being deployed. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Deployment of CTD and water sampling bottles. Oil rig in background. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Bongo nets, used to capture plankton, being deployed. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

Checking captured material from Bongo net deployment. Operations on the NOAA Ship OREGON II.

The NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER from the OREGON II.

The NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER from the OREGON II.

Bongo net towing operations off the MILLER FREEMAN.

Bongo net towing operations off the MILLER FREEMAN.

NOAA Ship MILLER FREEMAN conducting operations in Alaskan waters.

Servicing the National Weather Service automated weather buoy that is nicknamed Peggy in honor of the lady who radioed weather to fishermen for many years in the Aleutian Islands.

A bow view of the MILLER FREEMAN.

Deploying a deepsea oceanographic monitoring buoy.

Patrol and research vessel used by the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

Passing through the Panama Canal on board the NOAA Ship RESEARCHER.

Passing through the Panama Canal on board the NOAA Ship RESEARCHER.

The NOAA Ship RESEARCHER waiting for transit through the Panama Canal. A United States Navy battleship is being towed in the background.

The NOAA Ship RESEARCHER being maneuvered by harbor tugs while in shipyard.

The NOAA Ship SURVEYOR off Seattle with the Space Needle in the background.

The NOAA Ship JOHN N. COBB in the foreground and the NOAA Ship McARTHUR tied up to the pier at the Pacific Marine Center in Seattle.

The bow of the NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN looms over the NOAA Ship JOHN N. COBB while tied up at the Pacific Marine Center in Seattle.

The NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN next to the NOAA Ship JOHN N. COBB at the pier at Pacific Marine Center in Seattle.

The NOAA Ship McARTHUR tied up at Pacific Marine Center in Seattle.

The NOAA Ship McARTHUR tied up at Pacific Marine Center in Seattle.

The gleaming galley of the NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN.

The crew mess on the NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN.

The bridge of the NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN.

Oceanographic buoys ready for deployment on the stern of the NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN.

Deploying an oceanographic buoy off the NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN.

Deck personnel controlling an oceanographic buoy as it is deployed from the NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN.

Another successful buoy deployment off the NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN.

Fish and Wildlife Service Patrol Boat ALASKA.