We just celebrated 3 birthdays here on the ship, and we have one more birthday to celebrate now, as of September 10. Our ship, the Akademik Fedorov, just turned 26 years old! She has served nobly as the main research vessel of the Russian Arctic and Antarctic programs, and continues to make expeditions to the Arctic as well as annual expeditions to Antarctica. Lots and lots of scientists who hail from all over the world have called her their temporary home over those 26 years, and I could not begin to guess the number of nautical miles she has traveled, nor the number of moorings, CTD casts, and other experiments that have taken place onboard – not to mention all of the things we have learned about the polar environment because she was able to crack through the ice to get there. (And as I have said, she was even the ship that went all the way to the North Pole to plant the Russian flag on the seafloor.) Here’s to a safe and productive ending to this journey, and many more to come!
- Standing on the ice by a newly-deployed ice-tethered profiler; from left, Meri, Eric, jake, Tobias, Ioana, Kensuke, and Vladimir (NABOS Summer School Director). Photo from Tobias Wolf
Hi Lindsay! Recently in class we have been learning about mass, acceleration, speed and direction. What examples of these do you see in the Arctic?
Nicolette, physics is everywhere on the ship! For example, the ship’s motion through the ice depends on the concentration of ice we’re traveling through. The ship can move through ice up to 6 feet thick, and it can travel faster in open water than when traveling through massive ice floes. Also, we measure currents in the water with a device called an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, and the motion of water masses can tell us how the chemistry and processes in the Atlantic can affect the Arctic. Those types of measurements are also involved in how we lower the different types of heavy instruments down into the water to take measurements, and how the currents are moving in the water.
As a student we are always informed about the scientific method, an just recently the 8 steps of engineering. How are both these methods helpful on your expedition?
Hi Nicolette, the methods and processes of science and engineering are everywhere on the ship – every day, scientists make their observations, run their experiments, and analyze their conclusions, and engineers and technicians assess the instruments, tools, and machinery in order to deploy instruments into the water and onto the ice as efficiently and safely as possible.
hi my name is briana morales a student from law enforcement memorial officers , Do you think you’ll ever visit the akademik fyodorov In the 26 years its been born ?
Dear Briana, I don’t know if I’ll ever be get another chance to be on this Akademik Fedorov ship again, but if I am asked to join another expedition, I will certainly want to!
Best Wishes, Akademik Fedorov!!! Happy returning at home!
Hi Ludus, thanks on behalf of all of us and the Akademik Fedorov!
how much storage can the ship contain?
Dear Henry, it’s hard to answer, because the amount of fuel used depends on the ice conditions we’re in, maybe about 20tons of fuel per day per engine (and there are 4 engines), and more than that for thick ice conditions). Storage is huge, I can’t even find a number for you on that, but I can tell you that it took a crane more than a day to load everything on the ship!
How diverse is the crew on board the ship, in regards to languages and nationalities.
Hi Julien, it’s really international – there are people here from at least 11 different countries, in Europe, North America, and Asia. The main languages spoken onboard are English and Russian, but lots of people can speak multiple languages (I am learning a bit of Russian onboard myself).
Happy birthday, keen multinational friendly team and Akademik Fyodorov! Pupils of Municipal School # 6 town Nyagan, Siberia wish you all kind of success and safe trip back home!
Hi School #6 and Valentina! Thanks for the birthday wishes! I think everyone who has had a birthday on this expedition will never forget it, and it was exciting to be on the ship for her birthday too!
All of your pictures of the Arctic are beyond stunning. You should put together a collective body of work from all the pictures taken by everybody and make the best ever
post cards and calendars. I’d be your first and best customer!
Dad, we are all sharing photos and you never know what Santa might bring you this Christmas from the Arctic! I was in his front yard just recently… 🙂