research expeditions

Saturday was so busy I forgot to write a blog entry!

On Friday evening the Amphipod trap was recovered. There was a good haul of the carrion eaters. which are generally quite small (up to 5cm) in this area.

…

Today has been a long consolidation day.

Late last night an amphipod trap was deployed, ant that will be recovered later this evening so I will get some pictures then maybe.

Two of the PELAGRA traps which were deployed at mid-night on Wednesday were recovered last night but the third one was only recovered mid-day today, as its signal had not…

So far we have had remarkably benevolent weather and yesterday I caught the sun a little as I was on deck filming most of the day, so today I started by putting sun screen on! It has been needed too as I have spent a good deal of today on deck filming.

…

After the actual recovery of the mooring buoy and then the sensor frame, the long job of recovering the 4km of rope began and didn't finish until late in the evening. It was not until 22:30 that three PELAGRA buoys could be deployed on a trial mission.

After the PELAGRA launches were completed the SAPS (Submersible Autonomous Pump Systems) were…

Today has been full of events. The CTD this morning, and then the recovery of the PAP mooring.

The ship manoeuvred carefully as there was still a big swell, but eventually the buoy was in position and was connected to the winch to be lifted on board. The buoy has a sensor frame suspended 30m below it on chain, this was carefully brought aboard…

We were all disappointed that the weather did not allow the recovery or the CTD to go ahead yesterday, but today the weather is definitely improving and the first CTD which will go to 4,000m was put in the water just after 6am.

It will take some hours for it to be lowered into position and then the releases we will be using on moorings later will be…

We had lifeboat drill yesterday afternoon, and as a newbie I paid particular attention. I made my way to the muster station through one of the water tight doors, as I would should some emergency require it.

RRS James Cook is a lovely ship and I have confidence in her crew, but it is good to know that the skills and equipment are readily…

Today is a day for final preparations and practice procedures while the PSO finalises the work plans to ensure the various groups of scientists and technicians will get the samples they need at the times they need them.

The principal task for the cruise is to recover the suite of moorings deployed a year ago at PAP, and then redeploy new moorings,…

Our cruise to the PAP site has finally come to an end and after a successful couple of days at the Porcupine Seabight the James Cook steamed back to Falmouth.

Although everyone was excited by the prospect of fresh fruit, crunchy vegetables, and yes, family and friends too, the joy of returning to “normality” is always accompanied by some sadness.…

Ahoy, everyone! A couple of days ago, we finally left the Porcupine Abyssal Plain after a very successful sampling regime of megacoring, trawling, and the deployment of various other instruments over the past few weeks.

…