07:00 Help the zooplankton team deploy their nets . Zooplankton ecology is my own discipline and there are four of us on board in total . Because of the many demands on my time , they mostly have to get on with their work without me . However , I try to help where I can and fielding the nets is something that I can do within my usual day . Its also fun , because you get to look at the wildlife as you wait for the net to descend and reascend the 200 m that it samples . Today we were in amongst the ice and watched chinstrap penguins jumping on and off the ice-floes . Some appeared to be dipping their toes in and refusing to jump – the water is -1.8oC after all .
08:30 Go the bridge . The bridge is where the ship is controlled . During science sampling stations , it is also where sampling operations are coordinated from . Line of sight onto the decks is often obscured , so there are a multitude of cameras where the bridge officer can monitor activites . Communication to the deck crews is mainly done via radio , although there are phones strategically placed around the ship when radios are not available . I check with Phillipa , the 3 rd mate , that sampling is going OK . We watch the screens for a bit and also notice some Minke whales appearing on the starboard side – so close you could almost
smell their breath ! Minke Whales and penguins @ Jeremy Young
09:00 Meeting with Master and Senior Officers . Matters are always arising and I usually meet with the ship ’ s captain , Jerry Burgan , at least once or twice per day to talk things through and consider best options . Today , we were starting to think about plans for demobilisation since , although we are only part way through the cruise , dates for our return
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