Today has been very much a regular day at the office. Granted the office is rather unusual. The first detailed plans are out and its regular work (paper writing, grant proposals and tea drinking) until the 08:00 on the 5th when we test the remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Until then we just keep steaming. But that is the future. Today at the office was punctuated by compulsory safety drills. Muster stations, life boat drill and putting on an immersion suit. Given that the seawater in which we are currently sailing is a balmy 6 degrees Celsius thermal protection in an emergency is a must. It is all the more important given that in the next 2 days we cross a water boundary and hit the Antarctic water sitting at close to 0 degrees Celsius.
Molly, Leigh and Katrin (50% of the scientists are female and we have lassies amongst the officers, engineers and crew), wrapped up warmly and huddling in the enclosed lifeboat avidly listening to how even hardened sea goers will throw up in one of these. I also learned we are human ballast and our body weight low in the boat is part of the life boat’s self-righting mechanism in the event of capsize. I now have an excuse to over eat!
Thermal protection comes in the form of a bright orange onesie which is accessorized with fetching reflective strips, rubber gloves and mittens. It is one size fits all and tops even my inadequate sense of fashion. Take a look
Oh yes! Fantastic Jeff