|
Section
XV outlines plans for United States Antarctic Program sponsored
oceanographic expeditions during the 1999-2000 season.
R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER
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 will be on long-term
charter to support the United States Antarctic Program. The R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER is
ice-classed 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, including 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, Lyttelton, New Zealand, and
McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD
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 will be on long-term
charter to support the United States Antarctic Program. The R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD is
ice-classed 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 davit. 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 will be 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 1999-2000 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 in Punta
Arenas, Chile, the month of August 1999.
The vessel will perform approximately 13 cruises in the Antarctic
Peninsula area during 1999-2000 season.
|
