Saturday Spot: World Ocean Day And a se7en + 1 Visit a Research Vessel…

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.

DSC_0202

I have to say I was quite excited to see the new ship, built especially as a Southern Ocean Polar Research and Supply Vessel…
DSC_0204

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…
DSC_0069

Up we went… Past the bell…
DSC_0074

Through the lounge…
DSC_0077

And the view…
DSC_0078

And through a cabin… and ours were nothing like this!!!
DSC_0082

And I couldn’t help myself but there is a photo of Table Mountain from almost every cabin we went into…
DSC_0081

And up many decks and flights of stairs…
20130608-DSC_5031

And onto the bridge…
20130608-DSC_5036

Heaps of gidgets and gadgets…
20130608-DSC_5040

And who can resist…
DSC_0086

Signal flags…
DSC_0085

And explaining to my kids that there was a time before everything you wanted to know arrived on a screen… in my lifetime!!!
20130608-DSC_5042

But times have indeed changed…
DSC_0090

Lots to look at…
DSC_0095

And learn on the bridge…
DSC_0096

And who wouldn’t want to drive…
DSC_0094

Gotta say, I loved the window in the floor above the science deck – a very cool add on!!!
DSC_0100

And the whole gang sitting on the bridge…
DSC_0109

And yes it is a long long way down…
DSC_0111

And so many directions to go in…
20130608-DSC_5056

And there is lots to see…
DSC_0116

Like our mountain in the pouring rain…
DSC_0121

And tug boats…
DSC_0132

Yup, lots to look at…
DSC_0123

And lots and lots of stairs…
DSC_0139

And rescue-vessels…
DSC_0141

And life-pods…
DSC_0142

And the Heli-Deck…
DSC_0135

20130608-DSC_5070 20130608-DSC_5071

For races of course…
DSC_0147

And inside the heli-hanger…
DSC_0155

Fire and Safety Equipment everywhere…
DSC_0153

Just love all the gear…
20130608-DSC_5076 20130608-DSC_5097 20130608-DSC_5096 20130608-DSC_5095

And onto the science deck…
DSC_0180

And would you look at this dream… the CTD, which is for collecting water samples at various depths…
DSC_0167

Goes down the centre of the ship… no balancing out on the edge of the ship for the modern scientist!!! Very, very impressive!!!
DSC_0168

Fabulous labs…
DSC_0187

Out on the back deck…
DSC_0163

And sample nets…
DSC_0193

And that was it…
DSC_0196

A great tour…
DSC_0205

And a last look around…
20130608-DSC_5059

And a quick ride on a skidoo… As one does…
20130608-DSC_5120

Exciting times…
20130608-DSC_5054

And a great way to celebrate World Oceans Day… and inspire my gang with a little Oceanographic Inspiration…

9 Replies to “Saturday Spot: World Ocean Day And a se7en + 1 Visit a Research Vessel…”

  1. 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 !

  2. Perfect day, Aunty Muffin, fabulous stormy weather… we could well imagine the Southern Ocean!!! Hope you have had a great weekend!!!

  3. 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!!!

  4. 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!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *