Over 90% of research activities completed, international cooperation that spans hundreds of nautical miles, and marriage of art and science – on June 19 r/v Oceanograf arrived to Bodø. This event concludes the first part of the BaltArctic Research Cruise.
– This moment right here, right now is a result of a year of intensive preparation and broad cooperation between not only SEA-EU universities but also Institute of Oceanology PAN – says Vice-rector for International Cooperation at UG Professor Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler. – With every long distance cruise we want to break new ground and there is no doubt that with this venture we’ve redefined what is possible in the bounds of European Universities alliance. I’m very happy to announce the first part of the BatlArctic Research Cruise is a success!
From Gdańsk to Bodø international research team on board of r/v Oceanograf conducted sampling activities for three major research tasks. All of them in some way help to find the answer to the question: where is the real end of the Baltic Sea?
– We managed to complete almost all research activities, except for one station where the weather didn’t allow us to perform planned tasks. In the Skagerrak Strait, the weather was really bad – 8 in the Beaufort scale; because of the high waves, we decided to give up on that station – said research team leader Professor Agata Weydmann-Zwolicka. – But if we talk about any other stations, we did collect all the samples we had planned for. We ‘ve also dropped in 16 drifters that constantly report their position; thanks to them, we know the sea current circulation in this area. We were able to complete over 90% of the research thanks to great cooperation both within the research team and with the ship’s crew – I think that was the key to success.
The end of the first part of the cruise concludes also very inspiring and fruitful BaltArctic Research Logbook written by Zygmunt Miłoszewski. Renowned Polish writer prepared a handful of insightful entries that shed some light on the real face of the cruise.
‘To be honest, before the cruise I was afraid that although in theory the r/v Oceanograf is supposed to be a ship of culture and science, as a person from another world I would not be accepted. That there would be serious scientists here who are doing serious things and don’t want anyone hanging around and disturbing them. Meanwhile, we end up after these three weeks as a group of friends. They spent time doing research, I spent time writing, and we ended up socializing together in the mess hall,’ says Zygmunt Miloszewski. ‘Today as we sailed into Bodo harbor, it was dinner time. We contemplated whether to go out, waving and bouncing, because after all, we were already docked, the end of the trip! But actually why? We’re sitting in each other’s company, it’s pleasant, it’s 6pm, which is the sacred dinner time, and we’re supposed to finish the meal. This is how crews are formed. Throughout my sailing career, I’ve watched with fascination how a group of people who don’t know each other get on board and after a few days form bonds that then stay with them.’
From June 19 to June 24 r/v Oceanograf is going to stay in Bodø Harbour, during that time University of Gdańsk’s ship will be completely absolved of its research duties and will become the centre for knowledge and cooperation.
