We are leaving Cape Town

Actually, it was nearly 9 months ago, when this expedition commenced in a meeting of all scientific groups involved, the logistic department of AWI, the shipping agency Laeisz which manages Polarstern, and Heli Service International GmbH, which operates the helicopters aboard.  After months of preparations, the first scientists boarded two days ago to start unloading the many containers with scientific equipment while still in port (Fig. 1), whereas most scientists embark today at noon.  Directly after departure (Fig. 2), 3.5m of swell meet us directly outside of port, requiring thorough lashing of the numerous boxes with equipment.  First, though, safety instructions are given, including gathering at the meeting point on the helicopter deck and proceeding to the assigned life boats.  On Polarstern this is, in fact, quite easy, as every deck is equipped with outside stairs port and starboard, which directly take you there.

17. December, 1st day at sea

During the night, the swell abated and everybody started working in the morning.  This first day at sea is governed by learning to find your ways (for those new aboard) and organizing the scientific parties.  The laboratories are assigned, 4 for the biological groups, 4 for physical oceanography and one for the media team, and the temperatures of the cold storage rooms and lab-containers are agreed upon.  The ship’s officers introduce themselves and explain the do’s and don’ts.  Counting nearly a hundred persons aboard, the tight quarters for the next six weeks require mutual consideration and an understanding of everybody’s role and duties in this enterprise.

Passing the 12 nautical mile zone, the phytooptic team already starts their measurements in the middle of the night.  Two days prior to departure they came aboard to set up and test their measurement equipment, such that they could start their program only a few hours after departure.

18. December, 2nd day at sea

After yesterday’s assignment of the labs and lab-containers, today is the day of moving in.  While the physical oceanographers already prepare their data loggers, which will be moored throughout the next week in the depths of the ocean to record its evolution for another two years, the biologists setup their microscopes and analysers.  Even the most sensitive and filigree equipment needs to be lashed securely, as the weather forecast by our meteorology team aboard reads an unpleasant 10 Bft for the coming night.