Lindsay MacDonald

Lindsay is based with CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research and will provide electronic support on the voyage. Biological, and bottom-sampling devices, and video and image capturing systems, deployed from the vessel, also must be monitored to control and maximise data quality.

"We must to be able to measure and plot the length of wire out and the velocity and tension on all winches on the vessel to enable control of the instruments deployed from the ship," Mr MacDonald says.

Lindsay's prime responsibility is to maintain the vessel's scientific electronics. This will be roughly his 41st voyage, but he says each one brings a new challenge. He is working on extending the winch-monitoring system, and is investigating the use of a wireless system to link some of the instruments and computers.

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Updated: 29/03/07