Getting ready to leave Punta Arenas

We have been enjoying some nice last evenings onshore: it is Summer here and there is daylight until after 10pm. But: the JOIDES Resolution is now being prepared for departure. All scientists are on board the ship and the crew is complete. We are still waiting for some heating and communication equipment and we will leave port as soon as that arrives.

The captain and his crew are preparing the passage plan to the Amundsen Sea. Equipment is being secured for a possible rough passage with high waves. Today we inspected our life vests and tried on our survival suits, which is routine at the beginning of each voyage. Because of a newly adopted international Polar Code we will adhere to a number of new safety measures. The shipboard equipment, including cranes, are serviced for freeze protection and everyone on the ship will go through Cold Water Operational Safety training, which will take place tomorrow morning for the scientists and JRSO staff.

Unfortunately we will likely not have internet coverage during most of our time in the Amundsen Sea because the satellites are very low near the horizon as we operate in that part of the world (it is a communications "blind spot"). Iridium phones are used for data traffic, weather and sea-ice reports. Daily and weekly reports will have priority over social media communications, so if you'd like to find out what is going on and nothing is posted here, you can check for operational and science reports on the website of the JR Science Operator.