Makai Pier Test Facility

07/27/2018

Well, the old girl is being retired today. Almost a quarter century I sailed on her. Countless adventures, grand times and hard times, moments of magic and madness. Fortunately, none of us Sub Ops boys will be able to make it due to a full scale project we’re running at the Makai Pier Test Facility. I, for one, would probably be unable to maintain composure doing small talk during the ongoing Aloha KOK luncheon. But there it is: Time waits for no one and eventually, all ships sail one last time.

12/21/2017

http://www.civilbeat.org/2017/12/devastation-discovered-in-deep-sea-from-industrial-fishing/

But without a $2 million donation, it may be the last expedition for the Hawaii-based research submarines and support vessel that conducted the study.

11/22/2017

The Ladies of the Deep returning home. Mahalo, PISCES IV & V, for keeping us safe, sound and thoroughly entertained this year through more than 500 hours on this planet’s seabed, where we’re really not supposed to be.

11/22/2017

11/21/2017

NYT article on the work we’ve been doing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Southern Emperor Seamounts.
https://www.facebook.com/max.cremer.37/posts/1543719938998882

Fisheries officials call the marine national monuments unnecessary, and their boundaries are said to be under review by the Trump administration.

11/15/2017

Back at home port after 2 1/2 months of diving on some of the most remote Seamounts on the planet. You know what the flying brooms mean, right?

08/12/2017

All structural and system functional ABS certification requirements passed. Last step: 6580ft maximum depth certification dive, PISCES V only. PIV is still good for another year. We will transport both subs to the UH Marine Center, Pier 35 at Honolulu Harbor, next Wednesday, 8/16.

03/29/2017

The balls are hung!
PISCES V command and after spheres were installed today. Major milestones on the road to re-certification.

03/18/2017

Abi, Joel and Sam came to visit us at the Facility with their Grandpa Brett. We had a great time checking out the subs inside and out. Smart kids with great questions. You just never know where your next Amelia, Sylvia, Nainoa or Jacques-Yves will pop up. How where they like as little kids? Could anybody tell they what they were destined for? What's the spark that propels people to apply themselves enough to achieve great skill? (Images courtesy of Brett Margaron, with permission from the parents. Mahalo!)

03/12/2017

PISCES V 2017 refit: We've turned the corner. Hard ballast tank installed in the very center of the main frame.

12/17/2016

...and just as the ABS inspection concluded, this beautiful goody basket was delivered to the shop courtesy of our friends and colleagues of Team PISCES VI. Mahalo Scott Waters, Vance Bradley and crew! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Mele Kalikimaka!!

12/16/2016

ABS Surveyor Nick Leik (with radio) observing PISCES IV main emergency drop weight release. Gotta appreciate a guy rolling on the floor in his Aloha Friday finest! Maintenance Chief Steve Price during PISCES V ballast pump tests. Survey went well. Only two of our 27 year old thrusters didn't pass electrical integrity checks anymore. We will have to replace them. Good conclusion to 2016.