Umitaka Maru — 2007/08

Umitaka Maru Photo: Yahoo Geocities

Daily situation reports

Follow the voyage tracks for Umitaka Maru

• Week 1 — 23-29 January 2008
• Week 2 — 30 Jan-5 Feb 2008
• Week 3 — 6-12 February 2008
• Week 4 — 13-19 February 2008 — NEW!

Other reports

• 19 January 2008 — The Umitaka Maru at last
• 20 January 2008 — The embarkation
• 22 January 2008 — Final preparations
• 23 January 2008 — Departure
• 24 January 2008 — First night at sea
• 25 January 2008 — Getting closer to the zone
• 26 January 2008 — Japanese living
• 27 January 2008 — First operations
• 28 January 2008 — Quick guided tour of the Umitaka Maru
• 29 January 2008 — Arrived in the zone at last
• 29 January 2008 — Welcome to the mesopelagic world
• 30 January 2008 — The first specimens
• 1 February 2008 — Superb, enigmatic signs
• 2 February 2008 — First iceberg
• 3 February 2008 — A moment of celebration
• 4 February 2008 — A visit to the microscopic world
• 4 February 2008 — Foul weather for working
• 5 February 2008 — On land
• 5 February 2008 — Moments of anguish
• 6 February 2008 — Sun shining
• 7 February 2008 — Antarctic herring
• 7 February 2008 — Eclipse of the sun
• 8 February 2008 — The water freezes
• 8 February 2008 — The krill
• 9 February 2008 — How to survive in cold water
• 9 February 2008 — First pancakes
• 10 February 2008 — Cultural exchange
• 11 February 2008 — Last sunset in Antarctica
• 12 February 2008 — Return to deep water

Countries involved

Australia, France, Japan

Dates

23 January 2008 — 17 February 2008

Location

Durmont d’Urville Sea — 150 °E to 160 °E

Project description

This project is part of the Collaborative East Antarctic Marine Census (CEAMARC). CEAMARC is the Australian, French and Japanese contribution to CAML. CEAMARC will contribute a highly coordinated and comprehensive survey of plankton, fish, benthos and oceanography of selected areas of Antarctic waters. This project will be focussed on benthos, complimentary to concurrent RV Aurora Australis study. Includes a pelagic study.

There are 3 dedicated CEAMARC voyages

• Voyage 1 — Aurora Australis
• Voyage 2 — L’Astrolabe
• Voyage 3 — Umitaka Maru

Gear description

Nets.

Project description

• Japan
• 24 December 2007 — 18 January 2008
• Syowa Region
• An initial voyage prior to CEAMARC
  • STAGE (Studies of Antarctica and Global Environment) NIDR
  • Plankton, Oceanorgaphy

Related links

• International Polar Year
  • IPY looks in to CEAMARC
• National Antarctic Programs involved
  • Australian Antarctic Division
  • French Antarctic Institute (non-English)
  • National Institute of Polar Research - Japan
• Umitaka Maru - ships specifications