Written by Kris Land
What Has the Scripps Institute Done for Our Oceans Lately?
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography is recognized as one of the longest standing advocates of the Earth today. Founded in
1903, researchers at Scripps have been studying the Earth and its oceans for decades. It would seem only natural that this institution would play a significant role in the cleaning of the Pacific plastic patches. For those at Scripps, nature is much more than a career. It is a passion and integral part of human existence.
The Seaplex
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has taken action to push towards a cleaner tomorrow. Combating one of the ocean's biggest man made threats; the organization has formed the Seaplex. Seaplex, which stands for the Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastic Expedition, is the institution's official effort to clean up the ocean's plastic patches. The undertaking is supported by the U.C. Ships Fund, the National Science Foundation and Project Kaisei.
What has Seaplex done for our oceans lately? Perhaps the better question is: what havent they done? The Seaplex team is constantly at work pulling debris from the tides. Seaplex goes beyond simple clean up to actually study the garbage collected and how it impacts sea life and water quality. This past November, the team accompanied the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as they pulled plankton specimens as a part of what is being labeled the world's "largest plankton tow". Data gathered from their efforts will help us better understand how varieties of plankton influence ocean mammals, fish and turtles and it will allow researchers to form a baseline for further data examination.
The second part of this journey includes studying debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. While crossing the entire expanse of the garbage patch, the ship will be among the first to measure its size. Researchers on board will also observe marine life and monitor how the presence of plastic debris in the water impacts their ability to thrive.
A Group Effort
The Seaplex and NOAA work hard to study the oceans so that we may come up with solutions to pollution problems. They are not alone in their efforts. Right now, there is a push for the renovation of an old Navy vessel, formerly called the New Bedford. The ship was also featured as the star of the 1955 hit film, Mister Roberts.
Today, the New Bedford has been renamed the Seabird. There is hope that the Seabird can be purchased and fitted with green technology to make her the cleanest running ship in the world. While proving the potential of green marine technology, the Seabird will also join the NOAA and Seaplex as they work to find solutions to the ocean's man made pollution problems.
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Breaking News
If you do not recycle this, it will take a million years to decompose.
1944: Camano Class Light Cargo Ship was laid down for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, NY.
1945: Delivered to US Army.
1950: Acquired by the US Navy on July 1, 1950 and placed in service as USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1954: The movie, Mister Roberts, was made on the USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1955 - 1963: Used as a cargo supply ship for the Texas Towers, a network of advanced radar stations located off the Eastern Seaboard. In 1957, Capt. Sixto Mangual was commander of the AKL-17 and in 1961 it was rechristened the USNS New Bedford. The New Bedford, sailing out of State Pier, was keeping vigil when Texas Tower No. 4 callapsed off the New Jersey coast during a January 1961 nor'easter.
1963: Reclassified as Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-308).
1971: The New Bedford (IX-308) served as a Torpedo Test Firing Vessel in the Puget Sound area.
1994: Ceremony in New Bedford.
1995: The ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 4.
2004: The Sea Bird's current disposition is a tuna long liner (fishing boat) out of San Diego, CA.
2006: Design of the Tesla Turbine began on June 11, 2006. The Sea Bird was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for commercial service.
2007: The Sea Bird was drydocked for renovations.
2008: The Sea Bird setting sail to Sea-Tac in Seattle, WA.
2009 - 2010: The Sea Bird is currently docked at Seattle Sea-Tac.
