Juno, the Mystic Aquarium’s convivial, photo-bombing Beluga whale, will continue swimming in cool comfort thanks to an unlikely chain of events that began 40 miles east in an Electric Boat industrial building at Quonset Point.
That’s where EB’s Russ Tatro and Chris Logan were going over plans with a vendor, Carrier Corp., to replace Building 60’s aging chiller, which had run its course and was destined for the scrapyard. A rental unit was serving the building’s needs temporarily.
The meeting wrapped up and the Carrier team headed to its next stop, the Mystic Aquarium. There, they found an identical chiller in use, outdated and sorely in need of spare parts. A few phone calls later it became apparent that parts from Building 60’s chiller could become critical spares for the system that keeps Juno and his friends swimming in cold 55-degree water on even the hottest summer days.
Logan and Tatro set to work, navigating the processes needed to make the donation happen. The pair joking dubbed their efforts “Operation Save the Whales.” EB President Mark Rayha ultimately signed the paperwork.
Tatro and Logan said the donation included the integrated control board – “the brains of the operation.” Since that type of chiller is no longer manufactured, parts have become increasingly hard to come by.
The aquarium said its chiller system has been in service for 30 years, serving both the beluga’s Arctic Coast habitat and the seals’ and sea lions’ Pacific Northwest habitat.
“Mystic Aquarium is grateful to the EB team for their generous donation and to the Carrier Corporation team for identifying the equipment as a direct replacement and facilitating the donation,” the aquarium said.
Mystic Aquarium and Electric Boat are partners in an initiative to advance STEM education, workforce development and recruitment, and conservation throughout the region.
Logan, an area superintendent, and Tatro, a facilities program rep specialist, met up recently with aquarium officials Keith Sorenson, Eric Bemont and Rob Gray Sr. in front of the beluga tank, with Juno front-and-center for photos.
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Kamal Mohamed Recognized as 2026 Hartford Business Journal 40 Under Forty Award Recipient
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One Week Left—Let’s Claim the Torch! AHA Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk: Final Countdown
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803 Section 2B/5 Transported from Quonset Point to Groton
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Remembering September 11
On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers of downtown Manhattan’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., were targeted in a series of coordinated attacks that would leave an everlasting imprint on our country’s psyche. As the events unfolded on that Tuesday morning, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives, over 600 were injured...Continue reading→
EBECSA Celebrates 75 Years — Nominate EB Employees Past and Present for Recognition
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Atlas Plaque Unveiled, Honoring Plank Owners at South Yard Ceremony
Employees who have worked on Atlas, EB’s new state-of-the-art floating dry dock, gathered in the South Yard on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to unveil a new bronze plaque recognizing the contributions of its plank owners. The event celebrated the teams who helped bring Atlas from Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana to its arrival in Groton earlier this year. Atlas will play...Continue reading→
Neighbors Meet with EB to Discuss Noise, Lighting and Other Quality of Life Topics
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Rayha Report Ep. 26: Waterford Campus Groundbreaking
EB President Mark Rayha reports from the groundbreaking of the new Waterford Campus, where innovation, engineering and workforce development will come together to support our mission. The new facility will help train hundreds of shipbuilders daily as EB continues to grow for future production demands.
