Hi Bill-

I have noticed some new things on the Healy-- Big Eyes, the Red Goat finally installed, fresh paint... Do you know of any other improvements were made since the dry dock this past year?

Loved the pebbles from the bottom.

Deanna

Bill Schmoker

Hi Deanna- good eye on the dry dock additions! I asked around about this and it seems the other changes are more behind the scenes. The main upgrades are a new multibeam sonar system and a new communications satellite system. Both have had their quirks but part of the year's Arctic campaign for Healy is figuring them out.The new satellite (v-sat) is awesome when it works. We can call home on it (with a calling card from the ship's store) and get pretty fast internet. But we've had trouble maintaining contact with it north of 78°.
Glad you enjoyed the pebbles- that little collection has a lot of meaning for me.
Best from the Arctic- Bill