The ODP Operations and Engineering personnel aboard JOIDES Resolution for Leg 164 were:
Leg 164 began with the first line ashore at 1030 hr on 7 October at the Atlantic Wharf (old sugar dock) on the Dartmouth side of Halifax harbor, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Leg 164 port call was originally scheduled to begin on 28 October; however, Leg 163 was terminated three weeks early when the ship sustained damage from a severe storm, including the loss of both radar units. The Gaddus Atlantica accompanied the JOIDES Resolution to Halifax as a radar picket and was released from contract on arrival.
Ship repairs in port started with a general ship inspection, including an inspection of the hull by divers. The pacing item at the port call was the repair of Thruster Pod No. 1, which had a crack in the pod and had been flooded. The trunk and pod were removed on 13 October, repaired, and reinstalled on 29 October. A number of other items were repaired or replaced. The missing "F" hydrophone, and the broken port window and starboard clear-view window on the bridge were all replaced. The radar units were repaired. Thyrig bays were inspected, and Lifeboats No. 1 and 3 were repaired. A bent I-beam was replaced in the mezzanine deck, and plates were replaced on the poop deck.
The regular Ocean Drilling Program/Overseas Drilling Limited (ODP/ODL) crew change was made on schedule on 28 October, and routine port-call operations were completed while the repairs continued. The Physical Properties Lab was remodeled. Numerous tours and public relations events were conducted in concert with the Canadian ODP. Sepiolite mud (74 metric tons) was loaded onboard for the extensive logging and VSP program planned for Leg 164. An outfitted engineering van was sent out and installed on the roof of the Core Tech Shop. The pressure core sampler (PCS) gas manifold was set up in the van and tested in preparation for its later use.
The ship departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, at 1620 hr on 31 October, 1995. The transit to Site 991 covered 1908 km in 95.6 hr at an average speed of 10.8 kt. The ship's course was initially set at 191° to cross roughly perpendicular to the east edge of the Gulf Stream rather than combat the current, and to avoid the shipping lanes on the east coast of the United States. The ship's speed over ground was reduced to about 10.4 kt for 4 hr when crossing the Gulf Stream, and then a more direct course was taken. The main-shaft rpm was reduced again on 3 November in a Force 6-7 gale to reduce spray over the bow in heavy seas with 15-ft waves and 40-kt winds.