Survey Vessel

Oslo Express draws more than 33 feet, making her by no means the deepest vessel in port. Channel depth excludes the largest vessels from entering our fair port already. So what has that to do with the orange boat in the foreground?

 

The small orange vessel, aka Michele Jeanne, does hydrographic surveys, seeing the invisible, mapping the infinitely complex bottom of the harbor, ensuring avoidance

 

of incidents like that of New Delhi Express, April 2006, when the bottom came too close;

 

and so much more. Hydrographic data collection begins when the globe-tipped rod on the bow swivels 180 degrees and all systems get powered up. Quite a leap forward from the tallow-tipped lead line. See a century-old chart of the harbor here. Find out about June 21 here. Maybe more later.

Photos, WVD.