by Ria Olivier | Jul 14, 2022 | Current Event, News, Research, SA Agulhas II, SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SANAP, SAPolarRI, Science, Southern Ocean, STEM
Through the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI), the current SCALE-WIN22 (21-day) cruise, onboard the RV S.A. Agulhas II, is offering polar science training to 8 young individuals from South African universities not historically involved in polar sciences (or involved but in a small extent) or perhaps holding degrees not historically considered to be included in polar sciences.
They will get the opportunity to job-shadow members of the various research teams during onboard activities and get first-hand experience in polar sciences, by assisting with sampling. They will learn more about polar sciences through the onboard seminars delivered during the voyage.
Meet the 8 South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) Trainees:
Pre-voyage logistics for the trainees were handled by the acting manager of SAPRI, Prof Juliet Hermes (Manager: South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Egagasini node).
Read more about SCALEwin22 here!
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 14 July 2022
by Ria Olivier | Jul 12, 2022 | Current Event, News, Oceanography, Research, SA Agulhas II, SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SANAP, SANAP Student, SAPolarRI, Science, Southern Ocean, STEM
SCALE (Southern oCean seAsonaL Experiment) Winter 2022 Expedition (SCALE-WIN22) onboard the RV S.A. Agulhas II
This dedicated science cruise is funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) in support of the scientific community involved in Southern Ocean projects (South African National Antarctic Programme – SANAP and other fundings). The South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) facilitated the coordination of logistics.
This is a continuation of the SCALE coordinated effort (Southern oCean seAsonaL Experiment) proposed by the South African scientific community as a bottom-up experiment.
“SCALE-WIN22 will be a 21 days cruise of intensive sampling of the ocean-atmosphere- sea ice processes in the Antarctic polar zone. Multidisciplinary measurements of physical and biogeochemical properties of the ocean and sea ice will be performed in a set of process stations in the outer and inner MIZ”.
Departure: 11 July 2022
ETA back in Cape Town: 31 July 2022
Area of operation: The S.A. Agulhas II will operate from Cape Town to the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) along the Good Hope Line.
Provisional map of the track and stations.
Chief Scientists:
| Prof Marcello Vichi (UCT, on board) | Dr Sarah Fawcett (UCT, on land) |
| |
This cruise involves 13 national and 4 international research projects:
These projects will be introduced throughout the course of the cruise.
The number of passengers onboard:
84 passengers onboard the vessel. This number includes the 8 South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) trainees.
National and international scientific institutions involved:
1. South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) and South African Environmental Network (SAEON)
2. University of Cape Town (UCT)
3. Stellenbosch University (SU)
4. South African Weather Service (SAWS)
5. Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
6. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Southern Ocean Carbon-Climate Observatory – SOCCO)
7. Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
8. University of Pretoria (UP)
9. Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
10. Representatives from the University of South Africa (UNISA), Rhodes University (RU), University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN), University of the Free State (UFS), Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
11. University of Gothenburg, Sweden
12. British Antarctic Survey, UK
13. University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
14. The University of Melbourne, Australia
15. University of East Anglia, UK
16. Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), France
17. CNR, Italy
18. University of Tasmania, Australian Antarctic Division, Australia
19. Aalto University, Finland
20. Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland
21. SYKE, Finland
22. Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany
East Pier, Port of Cape Town. Cruise participants arriving from the quarantine facility. Only participants with negative Covid-19 test results will be allowed onboard.
The offical cruise hashtag to be followed: #SCALEwin2022
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 12 July 2022
by Ria Olivier | Jul 7, 2022 | Announcement, Current Event, News, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Science, SEAmester, Southern Ocean, STEM, sub-Antarctic
South Africa’s 5th class afloat voyage, SEAmester V, is currently on the final leg home. On this last day on board the vessel, students are finishing up all deck work, and completing all projects and project presentations. There will be an art exhibition and farewell gathering later this evening.
This year, there were 21 lecturers involved in the SEAmester program.
Meet the lecturers of SEAmester V (2022)
by Ria Olivier | Jun 27, 2022 | Announcement, Current Event, News, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Science, SEAmester, Southern Ocean
The S.A. Agulhas II is getting ready for departure on the 5th SEAmester cruise. The expected time of departure is today, 27 July 2022.
37 students from 14 national higher education institutions and 1 international institution, were selected for SA’s class afloat which is an 11-day marine science winter school onboard the S.A. Agulhas II. The cruise will take part along the South African coast and across the Agulhas current to the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. Students will be exposed to hands-on ship-based deck activities, as well as traditional classroom lectures.
Places of origin – 31 of the 37 students indicated where they originally come from.
Read more about SEAmester
Meet the 37 students that were selected for this cruise:
* Note that only students presenting a negative Covid-19 PCR test will be permitted to board the vessel.
by Ria Olivier | Jun 25, 2022 | Announcement, Antarctica, Current Event, International Days, Legacy, Marion Island, SA Agulhas II, Southern Ocean
Day of the Seafarer, launched in 2011, is a day to pay tribute to all those working in the maritime industry. This year’s theme is ‘Your voyage – then and now, share your journey’.
Seafarers play a crucial role in the South African National Antarctic Programme.
I had the opportunity to come in contact with the newly promoted Chief Officer Subramoney, working for African Marine Solutions (AMSOL). AMSOL manages the South African polar research and supply vessel, the S.A. Agulhas II, and the Algoa research vessel.
This is the journey of Chief Officer Delicia Subramoney
THEN and NOW – from cadet to Chief Officer
My journey started as a trainee (cadet) onboard the SA Agulhas II. I joined the vessel on its maiden voyage from Finland (click here, for images). I’ve fulfilled all navigational ranks onboard such as 3rd officer and 2nd officer, whilst working with AMSOL. And 10 years later, promoted to Chief Officer. It’s been a very challenging yet rewarding journey stepping onboard as Chief Officer and being a part of senior management after all these years.
Was becoming a seafarer always your dream?
Yes, I was introduced to the career and encouraged to apply for maritime studies at a very young age, due to my love for the sea and strong-willed characteristics. I began my maritime and seafarer career at the Durban University of Technology in 2011 and I’ve been at sea for 10 years.
Any special places you’ve visited while working onboard the S.A. Agulhas II?
South Georgia will always be my ultimate experience. I’ve never experienced a place more serene and beautiful.
Describe a typical day as Chief Officer onboard the S.A. Agulhas II?
The chief officer on board is responsible for safety and security, and managing the deck department and its operations. A typical day involves a lot of running around, safety discussions, organizing operations, and a ridiculous amount of coffee.
Being a seafarer can get really tough at times, what are the challenges of being a seafarer?
There’s honestly too much to mention. The maritime industry is faced with so many challenges, and at the same time quite neglected. It was especially difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic with an extended tour of duties, restrictions on shore leave, not being able to see your family, commercial pressure, and an overall stressful environment. I think the overall challenge for me is managing stress in such a demanding environment. Having a land-based job makes it a bit easier because you have access to family, friends, and other facilities that help you destress. However, being on a ship for long periods of time becomes an overwhelming cycle.
Some last words:
My journey at sea has shaped me into the person I am today. Being a seafarer exposes you to extreme conditions. It is very challenging but at the same time contributes to your personal growth. Being a woman at sea, I feel it is my responsibility to make the environment better for the next generation. I hope that all seafarers, especially women, that come into this career can leave their mark and contribute to a more equal and diverse system. Nothing on a ship is more important than a healthy working space and teamwork. It’s not just one person’s responsibility to run the ship, it’s the officers, crew, catering staff, engineers, cadets, etc – and I am thankful for all that I have worked with and continue to learn from!
To Chief Officer Delicia Subramoney and the rest of the crew onboard the S.A. Agulhas II
Thank you for pursuing this vital career in the marine industry. Thank you for ensuring the safety and comfort of all passengers boarding the vessel.
Check out the video below by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 25 June 2022.
Images: supplied by Delicia Subramoney
by Ria Olivier | Jun 3, 2022 | Announcement, Research, SA Agulhas II, SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SANAP, SAPolarRI, Science, Southern Ocean, STEM
The South African Polar Research Infrastructure has been recently established through funding from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). SAPRI is a consortium of institutions led by the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) that enables scientific research in polar sciences. Among the various aims, it will promote and support participation in the South African National Antarctic Program (SANAP) by institutions that have not been historically involved in polar sciences.
As part of this transformation program, SAPRI will support the participation of 10 early career researchers to an upcoming research cruise on the S.A. Agulhas II departing on the 11th of July 2022. The scientific program will cover a variety of polar disciplines, from open ocean sampling to sea ice measurements. The projects are currently part of the SANAP and other NRF-funded projects with topics in the Southern Ocean and are led by internationally renowned scientists, with the participation of international teams.
The “SAPRI trainees” can be either early career researchers with an interest to grow their career in the polar sciences or more established researchers that would like to broaden their horizons. It is aimed at people who are early career (post-MSc) or established scientists and technicians who will remain in the system either through a Postdoc or being employed. They will participate in seminars on board the ship and will be exposed to the science done by the various projects, with direct hands-on experience through job shadowing and direct sampling. This is an opportunity to expand your current research topics and to build a network that would be helpful for your own projects. The group of SAPRI trainees will eventually become leaders of individual projects in their own universities.
This is a last-minute call specifically addressed to institutions and topics that have not been traditionally part of the SANAP. This includes aspects of social and economical sciences that are relevant to the polar sciences. As such, we require a prompt response from researchers and postgraduate students (MSc, MPhil, PhD). Participants will need a valid passport and be ready to go through a quarantine period of 7 days prior to departure.
Chief Scientist: A/Prof Marcello Vichi (MARiS)
KEY DATES:
8 June 2022: Applications Close
5 July 2022: Quarantine in dedicated hotel
11 July 2022: Departure at East Pier, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Harbour.
31 July 2022: Arrival at East Pier, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Harbour
COSTS: The SAPRI will cover the costs for transportation, quarantine stay and medicals. Ship costs will be covered by the NRF.
Expression of Interest: Click here!
To view the SCALE Crusie Report of 2019:
Click here!
DEADLINE: 08 June 2022
