Journals 2007/2008

Christine Kirch
West Warwick High School, West Warwick, Rhode Island

"Life in the Extreme Environment of Mohn's Ridge" Norwegian Research Vessel G.O. Sars June 25 - July 9, 2007

Journal Index: June 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26,27,28 - 29 - 30 July 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7,8 - 8 - 9 Additional Resources

June 25, 2007
Boarding the G.O. Sars

My wake up call was for 7am. I ate breakfast and repacked. Signe picked me up at 8:30 and we walked to the harbor to visit the Ship's doctor. Every soul that is on a Norwegian ship, ferry to research vessel must have a physical from the ship doctor.

I had my papers from my recent physical in the states but it wasn't good enough. They did a urine sample, drew blood, took my blood pressure, gave me an eye test, and more. This doctor seems to focus on the BMI. I made it but with a lecture on eating. Good grief! And I was even in better shape because of all of the walking I had been doing. The University of Bergen paid for this physical which was really expensive. It took a little longer than we thought as there were lots of people there. In order to get back to the Hotel and pick up our gear we took a taxi back. I was glad because it would have involved another up hill hike! :) After we picked up our gear we walked to the University of Bergen biology building where we met Elinor and others going on the cruise. A taxi picked us up and off to the ship in the harbor for noon. We ate lunch on the ship and then spent most of the afternoon watching as equipment was loaded on board. The ROV was new and had just arrived.

Elinor With The Argus ROV. View full version pop-up.

After the equipment and personnel were all on board, we went to gas up for the trip. It took over four hours to accomplish that. After that we went into the harbor to test the ROV. During this time from 6:30 to 8:30 pm we were given the safety lecture and a tour of the ship in Norwegian, Elinor translated. I also had to don a survival suit, one of the things that I never look forward to on a research cruise.

Me in a survival suit in a life boat

From 8:45 to 9:45 pm we had a chief scientists lecture about the hydrothermal vents that they found last year at 71 degrees North just above Jan Mayan on the mid-Atlantic ridge. I learned a lot from this lecture. Atlantic vent fields do not have tube worms, vents are made of many different minerals, some ridges spread faster than others, there are two types of spreading-magmatic and tectonic, macro fauna differs as well as bacteria, and as I listened I realized that I would have to right many wrongs that I have been textbook teaching.

Rolf -Birger Pedersen's Lecture On Vent Fields At 71 degrees North

At some point after this the power went out and the engines died.

At 12:30 we had been towed to the edge of the fjord but there wasn't any news so I went to bed. I digress, in the afternoon when we boarded I went to the linen closet to get sheets, towels, etc. All of the other vessels I have been on you are in charge of making your own bed and taking care of your linens. However, I was quickly astonished that there was a steward that would be making the beds. :) Not only did he make the beds, he changed the linens on the cruise, and cleaned the bathrooms. WOW!!!!

Our Cabin On The First Deck. Signe's back to the picture.

My bunk was on the bottom and you will notice the duvet rolled up and a blanket on my bed. In Norway they do not use top sheets. I confiscated another sheet when the steward wasn't looking. The cabin had a couch, table, and the desk you can see with internet access, a refrigerator, and a large bathroom.