The R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER first
arrived in the Antarctic Peninsula area in April 1992. The vessel is owned by Edison
Chouest Offshore and is of United States Registry. The vessel is on long-term
charter to support the United States Antarctic Program. The R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER
is ice-class ABS A2, is 93.9 meters long, has a beam of 18.3 meters,
a design draught of 6.9 meters, and displaces 6800 long tons.
The vessel has 13,000 shaft horsepower driving two controllable
pitch propellers. The
vessel has a crew of 26 and accommodation for 39 scientists.
Research
Capabilities.
The vessel is equipped with a
satellite precision navigation system, side-looking and
fish-finding sonar, INMARSAT communications, TeraScan, and HF and
VHF transceivers. The
vessel is equipped with Dynamic Positioning. A deep sea trawl and
coring winch and two hydro-winches are operated through stern and
starboard A-frames. One
hydro-winch, equipped with electromechanical cable, leads through
a baltic-room arrangement, protected from the weather. The vessel is equipped
with multi-channel seismic capability, a swath multibeam
bathymetric system called SeaBeam, and is equipped with
laboratories totaling approximately 520 square meters, all located
contiguously on the main deck.
The vessel also has a suite of portable lab vans.
Ship’s Master: Captain Joe Borkowski.
Scientific
Programs in the Antarctic Treaty Area
The R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER will
conduct cruises in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, for
scientific research in the following disciplines: Physical and
Chemical Oceanography, Marine Geology and Geophysics, and Marine
Biology.
Intended Tracks and
Schedule
The vessel is currently scheduled
for work in the Weddell and the Ross Sea. Ports of call include: Punta Arenas and Talchuano,
Chile; Hobart,
Australia; Capetown, South Africa; and, New Orleans and Fouchon,
Louisiana. The vessel
will make a hazardous waste transport from Palmer Station to the
United States in August 2000.
The R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD first arrived
in the Antarctic Peninsula in January 1998, and is owned by Edison
Chouest Offshore and is of United States Registry. The vessel is on long-term
charter to support the United States Antarctic Program. The R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD
is ice-class ABS A1, is 14.02 meters, has a design draught of
5.48 and displaces 3400 long tons.
She will be a multidisciplinary research platform, designed
for year-round operations in Polar regions.
Research
Capabilities
The vessel is equipped with a satellite
precision navigation system, side-looking and fish-finding sonar,
INMARSAT communications and HF and VHF transceivers.
A deep-sea trawl winch and two hydro-winches are to be
operated through a stern A-frame and starboard side-hydro davits. Various over-the-side sampling
equipment will be handled through use of an articulated Hiab crane
on the ship’s fantail. The vessel will also have single channel seismic capability. In addition, it is equipped
with laboratories totaling 99 square meters and an additional
27 square meters in portable laboratory vans. Zodiacs are available for
ship-to-shore transport and sample collection.
Ship’s Master: Captain
Warren Sanamo
Scientific
Programs in the Antarctic Treaty Area
The R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD will
support research during 2000-2001 season that includes biological,
chemical, and physical oceanography as well as marine geology and
geophysics. The R/V
LAURENCE M. GOULD will also provide logistic support to transport
scientists, cargo, and personnel to/from Palmer Station.
Intended Tracks
and Schedule
The R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD will
transport support personnel to and from Palmer Station, provide
research support, and enter a routine maintenance period, the
month of August in Talcahuano, Chile. The vessel will perform
approximately 19 cruises in the Antarctic Peninsula area during
2000-2001 season. The
vessel will assist with the hazardous waste transport from Palmer
Station in July 2000.
