Investigator goes to sea, to see what it can (3-D) see
Posted: December 11, 2014 Filed under: Home, Investigator, Marine National Facility, Media Releases | Tags: 3-D mapping, Investigator, sea bed mapping, sea floor mapping, Southern Surveyor, welcome to port Leave a comment
By Hannah Scott
Tomorrow will mark the official Welcome to Port for the new research vessel, Investigator – however science success is already happening on board!
Over the last few weeks hydrographers on board the Investigator have created the first 3-D images to come from the vessel of the ocean floor around Tasmania: and the results are spectacular.
The impressive ship is equipped with sonar that will map the sea floor in 3-D to any depth, and a sub-bottom profiling system that can look further up to 100 metres into the actual sea bed, to determine its composition.
The team responsible have been setting out 120 nautical miles north east and south east of Hobart to test and calibrate a range of equipment and the sea floor data is being collected as they go.
An area of sea floor mapped by the Investigator recently.
While there have previously been images of Tasmania’s surrounding sea floor collected in sections, the Investigator has allowed the data to be collected at a higher resolution than ever before. To put this into perspective, the sonar on the previous research vessel, Southern Surveyor, operated to 3000 metres and the Investigator can map in detail to any ocean depth.
Investigator has recently undertaken sea trials off the coast of Tasmania to test and calibrate around $20 million worth of scientific equipment in preparation for research voyages in 2015.
The Welcome to Port Celebrations for RV Investigator will be held on the CSIRO Wharf at Battery Point, Hobart, on Friday 12 December 2014, which will mark the official handover of the ship from CSIRO to the Marine National Facility for operation.
The public are invited to come down to the CSIRO Wharf from 3pm to 8pm, where there will be science education activities for all ages, science equipment on display and the chance to win a ship tour of RV Investigator. The event is free.
The arrival of RV Investigator has sparked so many questions!
Posted: September 22, 2014 Filed under: Home | Tags: Australia's Marine National Facility, Future Research Vessel Project, Marine National Facility, Marine National Facility Science Advisory Committee, Marine National Facility Steering Committee, RV Investigator, Southern Surveyor Leave a commentWith the arrival of RV Investigator into its home port of Hobart, there have been lots of questions about the ship and who will be able to use it.
Investigator is the new Marine National Facility (MNF) research vessel. The MNF is a blue-water research capability, funded by the Australian Government and managed by CSIRO on behalf of the nation. It comprises:
- a blue-water research capability
- a suite of scientific equipment and instrumentation
- a collection of more than 25 years of marine data, and
- the governance, expertise and systems required to manage blue-water research and support research vessel users.
The MNF is available to all Australian scientists and their international collaborators, with access granted on the basis of proposals that are internationally peer reviewed, and independently assessed for science quality and contribution to the national interest.
Applications for sea time are typically called two years in advance of a financial year voyage schedule. The process involves primary applications to set the voyage schedule followed by supplementary applications to make best use of the vessel.
Here’s a great image of the all of the voyages undertaken on board the previous Marine National Facility research vessel, Southern Surveyor.
It’ll be amazing to see where Investigator goes over the next decade!
Topping things off – RV Investigator’s Observation Deck!
Posted: May 14, 2014 Filed under: Home | Tags: Australia's Marine National Facility, Future Research Vessel Project, Observation Deck, RV Investigator, Sea bird, ship construction, Southern Surveyor Leave a commentAlmost at the very top of Investigator is an Observation Deck, which will allow scientists to study seabirds and whales.
Check out these incredible seabird images taken by the Marine National Facility’s Max McGuire, on board Southern Surveyor, in the Southern Ocean.
A book about Southern Surveyor is on its way!
Posted: May 7, 2014 Filed under: Home | Tags: Australia's Marine National Facility, Book, CSIRO Publishing, Michael Veitch, Southern Surveyor Leave a commentAustralia’s Marine National Facility (MNF) and CSIRO Publishing have pooled their talents and resources, to secure author, broadcaster and actor, Michael Veitch, to write a book about Southern Surveyor.
How exciting!
On hand to facilitate the signing of the contract with Michael Veitch was Julia Stuthe from CSIRO Publishing.
The yet to be named book will be written this year and published late in 2015, and it will recount the history of this vessel, the people, the science, the places it’s been, and the ship’s importance to Australia.
In the lead up to the signing of the contract, the MNF’s Mike Jackson gave Michael Veitch a tour of the ship.
Check out the photos!
Meet one of our team, Ship Operations Manager, Don McKenzie
Posted: February 17, 2014 Filed under: Home | Tags: Australia's Marine National Facility, Future Research Vessel Project, HSE Awards, RV Investigator, Southern Surveyor 1 Comment
What is your current role?
I look after the science teams that carry out research on Australia’s Marine National Facility (MNF) research vessel. Until late 2013 this was Southern Surveyor but it will soon be replaced by our new research vessel, Investigator. I work with the scientists who apply for sea time onboard the ship during the applications process, then once the Science Advisory Committee and the Marine National Facility Steering Committee have ranked the applications against the assessment criteria set by the Minister, my team and I prepare the annual schedule of research voyages. The planning process for each voyage starts about two years before the scientists go to sea.
Why does this work appeal to you?
Every day is different, every voyage is different, every port is different and every challenge is different. I work with some of the best marine scientists in the world, and help them to successfully and safely plan and carry out their research at sea. I travel to ports around Australia and in the Pacific, to mobilise the ship for voyages, and about once a year I join a voyage. I work in a great team of people who all enjoy their work as much as I do, and I have a pretty amazing office with a view over the wharf and harbour in Hobart.
What is the most memorable moment or achievement you have had at Marine National Facility?
On the back deck of Southern Surveyor, at 50 degrees South, at sunset; it was so calm and the sea so glassy, that every albatross was perfectly reflected on the golden surface. When it got dark even the stars were clearly reflected.
Who in the Marine National Facility, past or present, has inspired you and why?
Professor Richard Arculus who is a volcanologist from the Australian National University (ANU) has been a frequent user of the MNF vessels over the years, and he has also been part of in the MNF Steering Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee. Richard is always really enthusiastic about his work. He is an amazing communicator and very generous with his time in explaining what they are doing and why it is important – when talking to different groups he can change gear seamlessly depending on his audience to make sure everyone understands. He is also a very knowledgeable rugby fan, which I’m a bit partial to.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up – are you doing it now?
A fisherman. And, as for doing it now, only on weekends, sometimes.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Fishing! I also like travelling, cooking and enjoy a good meal and I like to source fresh, local and seasonal produce.
What do you like most about working at the Marine National Facility?
The people, the ships, the sea, the science and the variety of work I’m able to do.
What one word would you use to describe the Marine National Facility?
Facilitating great science (there are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can’t).
Southern Surveyor in port in Hobart
Posted: December 11, 2013 Filed under: Home | Tags: Australia's Marine National Facility, Southern Surveyor Leave a commentThis beautiful photo of Southern Surveyor at dusk, in port in Hobart, was taken recently by Terence Ong.
A walk down memory lane! HRH Prince William onboard Southern Surveyor in 2010.
Posted: December 2, 2013 Filed under: Home | Tags: Australia's Marine National Facility, HRH Prince William, Southern Surveyor, The Duke of Cambridge Leave a commentIn 2010 His Royal Highness, Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, toured the Marine National Facility research vessel Southern Surveyor and met some of the incredible scientists who have work onboard.
Check out the photo gallery!
