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By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jenniffer Rivera
Fleet Public Affairs Center Detachment Europe
BLACK SEA — Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Pathfinder kicked off its scheduled at-sea capabilities demonstration Sept. 7, 2008 after departing Sevastopol, Ukraine.
During the at-sea demonstration, Pathfinder will be searching for the Soviet-flagged hospital ship SS Armenia that was sunk during WWII.
Civilian surveyors from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office, Ukrainian sailors, surveyors and historians and a team of civilian oceanographers from the U.S. based Institution for Exploration will be conducting the search in Ukrainian territorial waters.
"Ukrainian personnel from the Department of Underwater Heritage will help collect and identify data using the vessel's equipment," said Director of the Department of Underwater Heritage Academy of Science, Dr. Serhiy Voronov. "It is a pleasure to look for underwater relics in such a friendly and professional environment."
Since the exact position of the wreckage is unknown, the ship's civilian crew expects to use oceanographic tools such as a side-scan sonar and multi-beam sonar. This equipment uses sound pulses to locate possible ship wreck targets. If the sonars indicate a possible wreck, a remotely operated vehicle with video capabilities will be launched to verify findings.
"This is the first time we have been aboard any Navy vessel doing this kind of research, so it is a great experience for my entire team to use the equipment and also have the expertise of the scientists aboard the Pathfinder," said Voronov.
Ship visits and military-to-military exchanges like Pathfinder's joint at-sea demonstration and the search for Armenia are important partnership-building opportunities.
"This is the first time IFE has had the chance to work together with the Ukrainian Department of Underwater Heritage at sea," said IFE chief scientist, Katy Croff. "We have been working with Dr. Voronov since 2006 on other surveys so we are all very excited to be a part of this joint-at-sea demonstration and also thrilled to help strengthen ties with the Ukraine."
Oceanographic survey ships like Pathfinder are an important asset in understanding the earth's hydrosphere. They make it possible to better understand, manage and interact with undersea landmasses, global waterways and the creatures that inhabit them.
MSC operates more than 110 noncombatants, civilian-crewed ships that deliver combat equipment to troops, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, re-supply Navy ships at sea and perform a variety of other missions for the Department of Defense.
NAVOCEANO employs approximately 1,100 civilian, military and contract personnel and is responsible for providing oceanographic products and services to all elements within the U.S. Department of Defense.
| Date Taken: | 09.09.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.09.2008 06:41 |
| Story ID: | 23402 |
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| Web Views: | 275 |
| Downloads: | 250 |
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