Scene on the Sound: the Bell M. Shimada spends this sunny day working off the Shoreline coast

Photo by Jan Hansen

The Bell M. Shimada returned Saturday - this time to work in the Shoreline sunshine.

Homeported in Newport, Oregon, NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada is a state-of-the-art fisheries survey vessel that studies a wide range of marine life, sea birds and ocean conditions along the U.S. West Coast.

The ship’s design allows for quieter operation and movement of the vessel through the water, giving scientists the ability to study fish and marine mammals without significantly altering their behavior.