Research Expeditions
At any one time scientists and technicians from the UK marine community can be at sea on numerous vessels. This page provides information on the current research expeditions being undertaken by our two Royal Research Ships Discovery and James Cook. Here you can discover where our ships are and what they are aiming to achieve.
Updates from the ships’ Plans of Intended Movement (PIM)
| RRS Discovery | RRS James Cook |
|---|---|
|
Vessel: Discovery DTG: 141119 0800 Zone: Z Exped: DY110 AMT Subj: PIM
Pos: 30 28S 026 55W Co: 195 Spd: 100kts Wx: E’ly F5. Cloudy and clear. Low/Mod seas.
Status: DY110 science – Stations twice daily (04:30 and 12:15) - CTD, Bongo Nets and Optics. Vessel on transit to 12:15 Station.
Intentions: Continue with DY110
|
Vessel: James Cook DTG: 141119 0700 Zone: Z-3.5 Exped: JC188 Subj: PIM
Pos: Pier 12 St John’s, NF Co: N/A Spd: N/A WX: Wly x 20kts. Fine and Clear, Harbour Conditions
Status: Routine Maintenance of Vessel ongoing and preparing for JC190. Loading provisions this afternoon. Mobilisation to commence 15/0800L |
Ships’ positions
This map shows the positions of the NOC operated vessels RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook. While every effort is made to keep this map up to date sometimes position updates are not possible.
Latest Expeditions
RRS James Cook
| Cruise | Principal scientist & institution | Location | Duration in days (begins) | Aim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Steve Snook Fisheries and Oceans Canada |
Newfoundland and Labrador Sea |
24 days |
Goals The Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program (AZMP) was implemented in 1998 by the Gulf, Quebec, Maritimes and Newfoundland and Labrador regions of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The program's aim is to collect and analyze the biological, chemical and physical field data that are necessary to:
Sampling strategy The sampling strategy is based on 4 components.
JC190 will collect data according to the AZMP mandate in the Newfoundland and Labrador region; in particular the St. Pierre Bank, Grand Banks of Newfoundland, Flemish Cap, Northeast Newfoundland and Southern Labrador shelves. |
RRS Discovery
| Cruise | Principal scientist & institution | Location | Duration in days (begins) | Aim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DY110 |
Andy Rees Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
Atlantic Ocean |
42 days (October & November) |
The Atlantic Meridional Transect - AMT The Atlantic Meridional Transect programme (AMT) is a component of the NERC National Capability Long-term Single Centre Science Programme, Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science (CLASS) with objectives to:
AMT also provides a contextual logistical and scientific infrastructure for independently funded national and international open ocean biogeochemical and ecological research. AMT is a time series of stations along a transect of ~13,500 km in the Atlantic Ocean between the UK and South Atlantic. Twenty eight cruises have been completed so far, and the data collected have contributed to >320 peer reviewed publications and 68 PhD theses. Further information can be found here. Expedition DY110 (AMT-29) will take place between Southampton and Punta Arenas, Chile in October – November 2019. On-board will be scientists from Plymouth Marine Lab, the National Oceanography Centre, the British Oceanographic Data Centre and the University of Southampton who will be working to deliver on projects funded by NERC and ESA (calibration/validation of Sentinel-3 satellite) in addition to the AMT-NC science deliverables. Daily routine will involve stations at pre-dawn and mid-day which will include water column sampling using CTD, bongo nets and optical instrumentation. Data collected during previous AMT cruises is available from here. |
Previous and Upcoming Expeditions
Learn about the previous research expeditions that have been undertaken.
