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Research Voyages

Voyage to the Gulf of Carpentaria

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REPORT 2 - Hailing the crew

Chief cook Andy Goss in the galley.

Crew safety meeting on the bridge from left: bosun Mal McDougall, steward Charmayne Aylott, first mate Samantha Durnian, master Ian Taylor and chief engineer John Moreton.

Engineers John Moreton and Chris Heap consult documentation in the engine control room.

Bosun Mal McDougall (off shift) with his brother Graham at the 'Dog Box' winch station.

Voyage manager Pamela Brodie embraces the rhythm of life at sea, from cooked breakfast to waning moon

A day onboard the RV Southern Surveyor might start with an excellent breakfast cooked in the galley by Andy Goss. For some this is the first meal since starting work at midnight. Others are getting their rest after a 12 hour shift late into the night.

Behind all the marine research on the research vessel is the 24-hour effort and strong support of the 15 members of the ship's crew.

The master, Ian Taylor, and two mates, keep watch on the bridge and navigate us to where we need to go. They hold position for us to collect water samples and measure salinity and temperature profiles, or to sample sediments beneath the ship with the box corer. They manoeuvre the ship to tow the sampling nets and sled along the shallow bottom of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The chief engineer, John Morton, two colleagues and a crew member are in the engine-room to maintain the engines and other control systems on the ship. They generate our power, run the air-conditioning and the hydraulics for all the winches, manage the fuel and ballast, desalinate our water and treat our waste.

The bosun Mal and his brother Graham McDougall have worked on the ship for more than 10 years. On deck with three other crew members, they drive the many winches and handle the sampling gear.

Through the day the 14 scientists aboard adapt to the steady rhythm of the sampling procedures, followed by a 10 nautical mile transit to the next site. We are coming up to the tenth such cycle, with more than 100 sampling stations in store.

After dinner those of us who did not breakfast can watch the waning moon glow red on the horizon. It rises with Jupiter bright nearby.

About Pamela Brodie
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Updated: 29/03/07