Survey ship clears way

PHILIPPINE SEA -- The USNS Bowditch oceanographic survey ship was first on scene off the coast of Tacloban, Republic of the Philippines, ensuring safe sea lanes in order for the George Washington Strike Group to assist the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in support of Operation Damayan. Bowditch (T-AGS 62) is an oceanographic sampling platform for surface, mid-water and ocean floor data collection. Surveys of this nature are required to confirm bottom features and identify navigational hazards in the wake of a major storm. The ship has been performing acoustical, biological, physical and geophysical surveys in the off-shore waters of the Philippines since Typhoon Haiyan struck. Bowditch is operated by the Military Sealift Command for the Naval Oceanographic Office, a component of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command headquartered at the Stennis Space Center, Miss. The ship is one of six Pathfinder-class vessels with an all-civilian crew of professional mariners and scientific support personnel. (Source: Task Force 70 Public Affairs, 11/17/13)