Proceeding with the Fourth segment

guide by Sandy Parker-Stetter:

, and Administrator

2025 September 11 . 3:05 PM

1 min read

Proceeding with the Fourth segment

NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada Conducts Fourth Leg of 2019 Summer Survey

The NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada is currently en route to Seattle, with an estimated arrival date of August 20. As part of the fourth and final leg of the 2019 Summer Survey, the vessel is collecting data as it moves northward from Newport, Oregon, towards West Vancouver Island.

The survey's leaders aboard the Bell M. Shimada are Chief Scientist Dr. Sergio Ortiz and Co-Chief Scientist Dr. Michael Fountain. The crew is joined by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, who will continue to work northward from the southern end of West Vancouver Island.

Four autonomous Saildrones are also collecting data along the Bell M. Shimada's transects, waiting for the ship's arrival. These Saildrones are gathering valuable information north of Newport, helping to extend the reach of the survey.

Everyone on board and those following the survey are excited to see what will be found on the trip north. Ideal winds for the survey are around 10-15 kt (kilometers per hour), and the team is hopeful that the current conditions will continue to be favourable.

The Bell M. Shimada departed from Newport on August 5, and as it makes its way to Seattle, it will pick up transects north of Newport and work its way up to West Vancouver Island. The data collected during this survey will contribute to a better understanding of the ocean's ecosystem and help inform future conservation efforts.

Stay tuned for updates on the progress of the Bell M. Shimada's survey, and for the exciting discoveries that are sure to be made on its journey north.