Gdańsk – Kiel (Germany) – Brest (France) – Cadiz (Spain) is the route of the research cruise of the University of Gdańsk ship R/V Oceanograf. The catamaran left the port on May 26 at 13:00. His journey will last 23 days, during which dozens of scientists representing SEA-EU, a consortium of six European coastal universities, will conduct five one-day research cruises and three complex projects. The ship said goodbye Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski.
One of the scientific goals of the voyage is to compare the characteristics of a given sea area with other areas along Europe’s western coast. Factors investigated include air quality, gas accumulation in surface sediments, and microplastic levels. – On such a large geographical scale, this type of research has not yet been carried out, so in a sense our results will be unique and even pioneering – said the coordinator of the scientific committee of the cruise, Dr. Hab. Adam Sokolowski, prof. UG.
The ship’s next stop is Kiel, where some Polish scientists will exchange with the research team of the Christian Albrecht University in Kiel. R/V Oceanograf is the most advanced research unit of this type in Europe, so making its potential available to other foreign centers opens up a lot of opportunities. The catamaran has six rooms for researchers and equipment that allows, among others, for a thorough examination of the seabed.
The Oceanograf will moor in Cadiz on June 17, and five days later will begin its return to its home port in Gdynia. The entire route of the voyage is 4000 nautical miles, with the return the ship will be on the water for 39 days. The captain of the catamaran for the duration of the trip is mgr inż. Andrew Wawrzyniak.
The next stages of the cruise can be followed on the UG website
R/V Oceanograf illustration: dr Jakub Idczak
Photo and text: Marcel Jakubowski/ Zespół Prasowy UG