Leg 187 began in Fremantle with a dirty and disorganized JOIDES Resolution (JR) looking far from fresh after dry dock. We returned to Fremantle clean and shipshape with new blue paint from end to end. In the interim, we had more than achieved our objectives, having recovered basalts from 23 holes, running a record length of drill pipe through the rig floor in the process.

The success of Leg 187 owes a great deal to the crews of the JR. Despite the unusual amount of maintenance and restoration work required and despite the numerous, long drill strings that were deployed and redeployed every few days, the drill crews, the ship’s crews, and the science support team dedicated themselves completely to the success of our science program. We are grateful to all of them.

Leg 187 brought some unusual requirements to the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) with its focus on a responsive drilling strategy based on having a shipboard analytical capability. We thank the various ODP staff members and the volunteer committee members who devoted their time and efforts to fulfilling these requirements.