What do oceanic research vessels look like inside?
May 28, 2009 9:19 AM Subscribe
I'm a short story writer and I'm looking for information on oceanic research vessels. More specifically I'm interested in the 'lay of the land,' so to speak, aboard the vessel, how many crew members typically manage the ship, and the how the ship communicates with the outside world. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
I did a contract at the British Antarctic Survey once upon a time; they run several ships for research per se, and provisioning of research stations in Antarctica. Look at their website, staff blogs, and contact their press office if you need to. They were fantastic people to work with and I am sure would answer any reasonable query you might have.
posted by BrokenEnglish at 10:03 AM on May 28, 2009
posted by BrokenEnglish at 10:03 AM on May 28, 2009
I don't know if it's exactly the type of research you're looking for (the company I worked for makes maps of the ocean bottom; they don't go around collecting fish or poking at whales or anything), but I've assisted with software and hardware installation on one survey ship and went out to sea on survey ops for two weeks on another. Shoot me a MeFi Mail (or regular email) if you think I could help you out.
posted by xbonesgt at 10:07 AM on May 28, 2009
posted by xbonesgt at 10:07 AM on May 28, 2009
Best answer: As to what they look like inside: I have only been on a couple and one was a sailing vessel designed for education rather than active research, so it is probably somewhat different from the professional ones.
My general impression is that they look "government issue." They aren't fancy, but are comfortable. The surfaces were plain beige or white Formica. Booths like you might find in a cheap diner formed the mess area, covered with Naugahyde. The tables were on gimbals on the sailing vessel, but able to be locked/fixed in place on the diesel vessel. Some of the cabinetry was pine with a dark stain on it. Dishes were cheap but strong Melamine. Coffee was served in big urns. Every table/serving surface has an inch-high lip around it to keep things from sliding off.
The items of domestic life are oddly mixed everywhere with items of scientific purpose. Lots of clipboards, Ziplocs, dry-erase pens, racks for sample vials, testing kits in large plastic fishing-tackle-type cases, core sampling tubes, etc, side-by-side with random people's clothing, hats, sunglasses, books, notebooks, ipods. On the sailing vessel we had a lab amidships equipped with two heavy duty computers capable of doing radar views, GIS, bottom mapping, surface temp mapping, etc and two large printers to go with those. There was also a nav room with charts, radio etc where the course was plotted. A locker up forward held long lines and more sampling equipment such as the bottle (whose name I forget) you can use to get water samples at various depths, and plankton nets, etc. In the galley there was a large reference library containing field guides, textbooks, data binders, and some literature.
These layout diagrams<> may be of some use.
posted by Miko at 10:11 AM on May 28, 2009
My general impression is that they look "government issue." They aren't fancy, but are comfortable. The surfaces were plain beige or white Formica. Booths like you might find in a cheap diner formed the mess area, covered with Naugahyde. The tables were on gimbals on the sailing vessel, but able to be locked/fixed in place on the diesel vessel. Some of the cabinetry was pine with a dark stain on it. Dishes were cheap but strong Melamine. Coffee was served in big urns. Every table/serving surface has an inch-high lip around it to keep things from sliding off.
The items of domestic life are oddly mixed everywhere with items of scientific purpose. Lots of clipboards, Ziplocs, dry-erase pens, racks for sample vials, testing kits in large plastic fishing-tackle-type cases, core sampling tubes, etc, side-by-side with random people's clothing, hats, sunglasses, books, notebooks, ipods. On the sailing vessel we had a lab amidships equipped with two heavy duty computers capable of doing radar views, GIS, bottom mapping, surface temp mapping, etc and two large printers to go with those. There was also a nav room with charts, radio etc where the course was plotted. A locker up forward held long lines and more sampling equipment such as the bottle (whose name I forget) you can use to get water samples at various depths, and plankton nets, etc. In the galley there was a large reference library containing field guides, textbooks, data binders, and some literature.
These layout diagrams<> may be of some use.
posted by Miko at 10:11 AM on May 28, 2009
From what I understand the nationality of the research vessel matters. For instance, I have heard that there is no booze allowed on American ships but British ships have fairly cheap booze on board. Also that British ships have not-so-good British food.
posted by yarrow at 10:21 AM on May 28, 2009
posted by yarrow at 10:21 AM on May 28, 2009
Ooh! My friend Helen just got back from six weeks in the Bering Sea aboard the Healy, a Coast Guard icebreaker. She's a journalist and worked with a professional photographer to document the trip. They posted daily updates for Polar Discovery, which sound like they'd be exactly what you're looking for - a real-life look at life on an oceanic research ship.
posted by brozek at 11:16 AM on May 28, 2009
posted by brozek at 11:16 AM on May 28, 2009
These are the ships of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.
posted by angiep at 12:55 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by angiep at 12:55 PM on May 28, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by timsteil at 9:29 AM on May 28, 2009