Hey Mr. Budd, check out my new ride. We just made port in Singapore, around 6:30am, local.

I am just curious what type of company vessel is it. What type of research or duties do you do with it. Thanks

Kosko,
This is a marine seismic survey vessel. We hunt for oil by imaging the subsurface using seismic energy, recording the reflections, or returns from under the seafloor.
Among other things, I am the geohysicst onboard, QC'ing and processing the data we record.

-That would be Geophysicist, not geohysicst

Oh my, if it's possible, I'm coming back in my next life as a member of the crew of some kind of ship. Maybe only as a cook or something not too educated, like a geophyisist(sp)is. But on a ship. Always dreamed what it would be like to lead that kind of life. (sigh)

Careful what you wish for...
While it looks like a glamorous life, exotic ports, etc., it is actually either very boring or very stressful, living away from home and having to travel everywhere. Not seeing my wife and kids for the holidays and getting interrogated by immigration in Malaysia are but two recent examples of why I would not reccomend this life to others...
That said, it can be an adventure at times:)

That is quite a vessel. Do you pull streamers and such in order to perform your surveys? Or do you use single beam? Or a combination? What kind of sub-bottom penetration can you achieve?

Say hello to Kray. And who is Mr. Budd?

John,
We do 3D surveys so we pull multiple streamers and have multiple sources. Penetration is only limited to how long you want to record and what frequencies you can use-higher frequencies attenuate faster so the deeper you record, the less high frequency you retain. Mr. Budd is just a friend from home.

SPirate - Thanks for the information. I design ultrasonic transducers for different sonar applications so I am always curious to understand how the technology is applied. I am currently working on projects for SAS and phased arrays. And, when I was at Tech, one of my best friends was a Mr. Budd. We used to hang out at the Crystal Room, shoot pool, and play that oldies in that crazy jukebox. I also came across info from a fellow named Kray who is blogging from your M/V Western Trident,....

John,
Not sure who Kray would be from the Trident-there are two crews and i only know the other crew a little. I too have shot pool in the xtal room w/ Mr. Budd, when I was at Tech. He is without a doubt my best friend and used to be my landlord. Not a nicer guy on the planet, period. I wonder if we have crossed paths before??

John,
I just figured out who Kray is-he's an observer on the crew opposite mine. I sailed w/ him for a week in January. Nice fellow.

No kidding! We must have crossed paths if you ever lived at Water Street. I first met John Marshall Budd III when he started at Tech in fall of 1980. He was my landlord for a couple years when i lived at his Emerald Street property. Years later he introduced me to the lady who is now my wife,..... and he was an huge help when I renovated my first home in Ripley.

I lived @ Water St for five years in the '90's. Shot pool in the bar leauge w/ Jay for a couple of years, too.
If you look close in my other albums, you can spot both his boys. They're getting pretty old these days.

Marc, I would be hard pressed to recognize Jack and Noah becuase I have not seen them in so long - not to mention the Copper Country. Noah must be about nine now,.... right? All the best!

Marc, It's such a pretty boat!! :-p My research ship will more than likely be amoung the sea kayak class.

Sometimes after 6 weeks it seems about as big as a sea kayak!!

Why don't you clean the domes of the VSAT, they should be white, not grey.

Can you say, "NOT MY JOB"?

Are you still on this boat and where are you headed these days doing what?