As supporting infrastructure for the research fleet, the dock is a critical component of the Laboratory's ability to design, develop, and test sensors, instruments, and platforms at sea that will ultimately be deployed in the world's oceans to conduct sponsored research.

The dock's proximity to Laboratory and University facilities makes transfers of personnel and research equipment from shore to ship seamless. The investment in this critical facility underscores the commitment of APL-UW leadership to sustain the Lab's core competencies and strategize for future growth.

Moorings, both those with surface expressions and those with all instruments deep in the water column, are equipped with acoustic releases that set the chain of instruments and floats free from the weights on the bottom. For the NEMO subsurface mooring, the primary AND back-up remote acoustic releases failed, likely due to heavy corrosion of release parts by seawater.

The team was able to find the subsurface mooring using sonar mounted on the ROV. Then the ROV was flown into position to hook into the mooring just above the anchor.