Today was World Ocean Day and And it also happened to be the one day a year that the Department of Environmental Affairs opens her research vessel to the public.
I have to say I was quite excited to see the new ship, built especially as a Southern Ocean Polar Research and Supply Vessel…
In my life before kids I worked on the predecessor to this ship, the S.A.Agulhas, and I was keen to see the improvements and how things have changed in the last while…
Up we went… Past the bell…
Through the lounge…
And the view…
And through a cabin… and ours were nothing like this!!!
And I couldn’t help myself but there is a photo of Table Mountain from almost every cabin we went into…
And up many decks and flights of stairs…
And onto the bridge…
Heaps of gidgets and gadgets…
And who can resist…
Signal flags…
And explaining to my kids that there was a time before everything you wanted to know arrived on a screen… in my lifetime!!!
But times have indeed changed…
Lots to look at…
And learn on the bridge…
And who wouldn’t want to drive…
Gotta say, I loved the window in the floor above the science deck – a very cool add on!!!
And the whole gang sitting on the bridge…
And yes it is a long long way down…
And so many directions to go in…
And there is lots to see…
Like our mountain in the pouring rain…
And tug boats…
Yup, lots to look at…
And lots and lots of stairs…
And rescue-vessels…
And life-pods…
And the Heli-Deck…
For races of course…
And inside the heli-hanger…
Fire and Safety Equipment everywhere…
Just love all the gear…
And onto the science deck…
And would you look at this dream… the CTD, which is for collecting water samples at various depths…
Goes down the centre of the ship… no balancing out on the edge of the ship for the modern scientist!!! Very, very impressive!!!
Fabulous labs…
Out on the back deck…
And sample nets…
And that was it…
A great tour…
And a last look around…
And a quick ride on a skidoo… As one does…
Exciting times…
And a great way to celebrate World Oceans Day… and inspire my gang with a little Oceanographic Inspiration…
what a great outing!
We were also there 🙂 reading your post feels like a second tour,it seems we missed some things and you answered 2 unanswered questions ! Thank you 🙂 your photo’s are beautiful !
ooh we went on the tour to – what an exciting ship to visit – your photos are great 😉
Perfect day, Aunty Muffin, fabulous stormy weather… we could well imagine the Southern Ocean!!! Hope you have had a great weekend!!!
Oh Ellen, Wasn’t it a great tour… a real trip down memory lane for myself!!! Glad we could unconsciously answer your questions!!! Have a great week!!!
Shells…Fabulous, I was so excited to go on the tour and the day kept rushing away from us… we were the last group on!!! So very glad we made it. Really, really worthwhile!!!