Research Vessel Research Articles

Protein Synthesis Determined from Non-Radioactive Phenylalanine Incorporated by Antarctic Fish.

Direct measurements of temperature-dependent weight gains are experimentally challenging and time-consuming in long-lived/slow-growing organisms such as Antarctic fish. Here, we reassess methodology to quantify the in vivo protein synthesis rate from amino acids, as a key component of growth. We tested whether it is possible to avoid hazardous radioactive materials and whether the analytical pathway chosen is robust against analytical errors. In the eelpout, Pachycara brachycephalum, 13C9H1115N1O2 phenylalanine was injected intraperitoneally and muscle tissue was sampled before injection and at 1.5 h time intervals up to 6 h thereafter. The incorporation of 13C15N-labeled-phenylalanine into muscle was monitored by quantification of bound and free phenylalanine through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We found an increase in the pool of labeled, free phenylalanine in the cytosolic fraction that leveled off after 4.5 h. The labeled phenylalanine bound in the proteins increased linearly over time. The resulting protein synthesis rate (Ks) for P. brachycephalum was as low as 0.049 ± 0.021% day-1. This value and its variability were in good agreement with literature data obtained from studies using radioactive labels, indicating that this methodology is well suited for characterizing growth in polar fish under in situ conditions in remote areas or on research vessels.

Performance analysis of oceanographic research vessel precise point positioning based on BDS/GNSS RTK receivers

With the completion of the BeiDou Global system (BDS3), multi-GNSS is expected to provide better marine positioning services. However, its performance on high-velocity vessels in remote marine environments has not been evaluated. Therefore, this paper aims to use two integrated real-time kinematic (RTK) receivers to evaluate the performance of BDS/GNSS remote marine kinematic precise point positioning (PPP). Firstly, the single-system positioning performance was compared. Then, two multi-GNSS PPP accuracy evaluation methods based on the ellipsoidal height difference of two receivers and the ultrashort baseline fixed solution were designed, and the Up-direction RMS values were 0.086 and 0.087 m, respectively. With the contribution of the multi-GNSS, although the multipath and noise RMS values between the marine and ground environments were about 2.87 and 1.58 times for two RTK receivers, the low-cost RTK receiver can achieve high-precision kinematic marine PPP with the three-dimensional RMS better than 10 cm.

Sentience, Sentences, and Sentiment: Sensing Deep-Ocean Sediment through Artistic Practice

At this moment of climate crisis, deep-ocean carbon sequestration has been proposed as a strategy to curtail greenhouse gas emissions. The video article Sentience, Sentences, & Sentiment: Sensing Deep-Ocean Sediment through Artistic Practice explores ecological attunement and the role of language in perceiving the more-than-human—specifically the deep-ocean ecosystems facing potential carbon sequestration, ocean acidification, global heating, and eutrophication. The article unfolds an artist’s account of process for kór (core). An interdisciplinary artwork and slow installation, kór (core) features a deep-ocean sediment core extracted between Greenland and Iceland at a depth of 1,682m during a June 2021 science research cruise. In Icelandic, kór means choir or chorus; it is pronounced similarly to the English-language core. The article features video aboard the research vessel, the acquisition of the core, conceptual documentation of the resulting artwork kór (core), participant interviews, soundscape recordings, and an aria composed through the installation.kór (core) performs a slow installation as a point of activation, where community members contribute to, think with, and create in the context of considering the sentient being-ness of sediment. On a chalkboard, community members mark their reactions to and within the presence of deep-ocean water and sediment. This article shows multilingual sense-making (English, Icelandic, Polish, Danish, Spanish) and the sensorial materialities of bodies (human, cetacean, water, etc.) in the contexts of marine-terrestrial biospheres impacted by the climate crisis. The video aims to elucidate a creative investigation into an expanded notion of relations—crucial for collaborative survivorship in our multi-entity worldings.

Study on Fuzzy Control of Trawler Winch Based on AMESim

This paper introduces the rapid automatic control module of trawler based on the hydraulic system of ‘Zhejiang fishery scientific research ship No.2’.The hydraulic simulation model of double motor winch system is built in AMESim software, and SIMULINK module in MATLAB software designed closed loop fuzzy PID controller for hydraulic system simulation. through fuzzy PID control technology drives the hydraulic winch to quickly adjust the tension of the traction, maintain the stable balance of the traction force, maintain the optimization of network horizontal expansion, not only improve the fishing efficiency, but also timely and effective protection mesh. the technical achievements formed by the research will enable small and medium-sized trawlers to adjust the tension under various working conditions through the fuzzy PID control system to stabilize the opening shape of the trawl, so as to improve the automation level and fishing efficiency of related trawling equipment, and provide technical support for precision fishing.

Estimation of 137Cs Distribution and Recovery Using Various Types of Sorbents in the Black Sea Surface Layer

Monitoring 137Cs in seawater is necessary for the timely detection of radioactive contamination. The possibility of sorption and the sorption efficiency of 137Cs from seawater were studied for the first time during several cruises of the R/V (research vessel) Professor Vodyanitsky using various types of sorbents based on transition metal ferrocyanides (Anfezh, Niket, Uniket, FSS, FD-M, FIC, Termoxid 35, NKF-C) and zirconium phosphate (Termoxid 3A). The influence of the seawater flow rate and volume of the sorbent used for the recovery of 137Cs was estimated. The ferrocyanide sorbents Niket, Uniket, Termoxid 35, and FIC showed the best sorption efficiency (60–100%) at a seawater flow rate of 2–4 column volumes per minute. The data obtained during three cruises on the R/V Professor Vodyanitsky were analyzed. A detailed (28 sampling points) spatial distribution of 137Cs in the Black Sea along the southern coast of Crimea was studied using the sorbents that showed the best characteristics. An increase in 137Cs activity in the study area was not found, and the average activity was 9.01 ± 0.87 Bq/m3.

Morphological and molecular systematics of swimming crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae) from India collected on-board the FORV Sagar Sampada (cruise no. 378, 385 and 392), with notes on biogeography of the Indian portunid fauna.

Morphological and molecular characters of swimming crabs (Family Portunidae Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1815) collected during one cruise each of the Fishery Oceanographic Research Vessel Sagar Sampada in the northeastern Arabian Sea (97–110 m depth), southwestern Bay of Bengal (56 m), and southeastern Bay of Bengal (56 m) and western Andaman Sea (53 m) were studied. They are referred to 17 species representing 4 subfamilies, 8 genera and 2 subgenera. Cycloachelous levigatus Koch, 2021, Monomia rubromarginata (Lanchester, 1900), Thalamita malaccensis Gordon, 1938 are first records from Indian waters. The study also reveals variations in the pleonal and genital morphology of Monomia argentata (A Milne Edwards, 1861) form B (sensu Stephenson and Rees, 1967a). Mitochondrial Cytochrome oxidase subunit I and 16S rRNA gene sequences of 14 and 16 species, respectively revealed a monophyletic subfamily Lupocyclinae Alcock, 1899, and polyphyletic subfamilies Portuninae Rafinesque, 1815 and Thalamitinae Paulson, 1875. Analysis of the biogeographic distribution patterns of Indian portunids revealed a total of 104 species representing 22 genera, thereby suggesting mixed diversity in different ecological regions. The highest number of 72 species and 2 subspecies were recorded from the West and South Indian Shelf Province followed by Andaman Province (69 species), Bay of Bengal Province (54 species) and Central Indian Ocean Islands Province (26 species). Among the individual marine ecoregions, Andaman and Nicobar Islands recorded the highest number of species (69 species), followed by South India (57), Eastern India (50), Western India (47), Northern Bay of Bengal (32) and Maldives (26).

Lightweight algorithm for multi-scale ship detection based on high-resolution SAR images

ABSTRACT As ship target detection technology has high application value in military and civil fields, it is significant to research ship detection in SAR images. Aiming at the complex and diverse backgrounds, significant differences in ship sizes, and real-time detection problems in the ship target detection task of SAR remote sensing images, a lightweight ship detection network based on the YOLOx-Tiny model is proposed. Firstly, a multi-scale ship feature extraction module is proposed, composed of a parallel multi-branch structure connected by a standard convolution layer, asymmetric convolution layer, and dilatation convolution layer with different expansion rates in turn. It makes better use of local features and global features and effectively improves the detection accuracy of multi-scale ship targets; Secondly, to ensure detection performance and eliminate background interference, we propose a whole SAR remote sensing image detection strategy based on an adaptive threshold, which effectively suppresses false alarms caused by background and improves detection speed. The experimental results on two different SAR ship datasets, SSDD and HRSID, show that, compared with several advanced methods, the effectiveness and superiority of the method in this paper are verified, and excellent results are shown in the detection of the whole SAR remote-sensing image. It can provide effective theoretical and technical support for ship detection on platforms with limited computing resources and has good application prospects.

Blue (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin (B. physalus) whale vocalisations measured from northern latitudes of the Atlantic Ocean

Vocalisations were recorded in the vicinity of sighted blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin whales (B. physalus) in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Greenland in August 2004 from a hydrophone towed behind a research vessel and from free floating sonobuoys. The structures of recorded calls were broadly similar to those reported from other areas, but lacked the stereotypical patterning of those signals thought to represent reproductive displays. Counts of non-patterned blue whale calls indicated low vocalisation rates, with a mean of 0.62 phrases per whale per hour (0.12 A-B and 0.49 arch phrases per whale per hour). However, vocalisations were highly clustered in time, with 80% of blue whale calls ascribed to the focal animals arriving within a single 80 second period. It is not clear what behavioural, geographical or seasonal trends may influence the vocalisation rate of large baleen whales, and thus direct comparisons between areas are difficult. However, it is hoped the results presented will be of use in interpreting remote recordings of blue whales made from the North Atlantic. Hydrophones were also monitored continuously over 7,757km of trackline using an automated detection algorithm developed for North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis). However, no North Atlantic right whales were seen or heard during the study period.

Cetacean distribution in the coastal waters of the Sultanate of Oman

Small boat surveys were conducted between 2000 and 2003 in three main regions of Oman’s coastal waters: Muscat, the Gulf of Masirah and Dhofar. Survey data were analysed to calculate relative abundances of the seven most frequently encountered species in these areas. These include (in order of frequency) bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.), long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis), Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera sp.) and Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus). Other species observed include false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) and unidentified beaked whales. Encounter rates per distance searched were plotted by 0.1 x 0.1 degree grid cell, giving an indication of relative abundances and key areas of habitat used by each of the seven most frequently encountered species. These plots demonstrate that the nearshore areas of the Gulf of Masirah, as well as the coastal waters of Dhofar, are areas of concentration for the Arabian Sea’s recently designated Endangered subpopulation of humpback whales, as well as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, which are considered Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.1 The results presented here provide valuable baseline data for future research and help to inform conservation management efforts that are required to address the highly vulnerable status of the humpback whale and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin populations in question.

On rudder-roll stabilization autopilot based on response models

This study proposes a rudder-roll stabilization (RRS) autopilot by using novel response models developed by Yasukawa and Yoshimura (YY models) since they include the roll-coupling effect. The statistical optimal control theory which used Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used. To verify the proposed RRS autopilot, numerical simulations based were also performed on the onboard monitoring data of a fishery research vessel; the results confirmed its effectiveness for course keeping and roll reduction.

Criticality Analysis for Research Vessel Machinery System Maintenance Strategy. Study Case: RV. Baruna Jaya

In recent years, marine survey operations such as survey operations for underwater communication cables and tsunami early warning systems have become an annual activity involving research vessels in Indonesia. Along with the increasing age of the ship, it will be followed by a decrease in the performance of the machinery system. Maintenance of the machinery system is carried out to maintain the desired performance by ship users. However, with a large number of machinery system equipment and limited resources, an analysis is needed to prioritize which equipment or components need regular maintenance and monitoring activity. By classifying all assets into a hierarchical form and performing a risk-based criticality analysis, equipment will be prioritized based on the probability of failure and the level of consequence. By determining the probability of failure of a component based on historical data and reference failure data, and determining the consequences for health safety (HS), production (P), Environment (E), and Containment (Cn), the risk would be obtained. From this analysis obtained as many as 766 equipment and components consisting of 38 rotary equipment, 45 static equipment, 196 piping components, and 487 instruments. The risk analysis obtained as many as 23 (3%) of equipment in H (high), 138 (18%) in the M (medium) condition, and 605 (79%) in the L (low) condition. The criticality results determined that 161 (21%) equipment in H & L conditions would be carried out planned maintenance and 605 (79%) equipment in low condition would be carried out unplanned maintenance.

Evaluating DNA cross-contamination risk using different tissue sampling procedures on board fishing and research vessels

Abstract Sample cross-contamination remains a pervasive issue in genetics and genomics. With growing reliance on molecular methods for managing marine resources, the need to ensure the integrity of tissue samples that underpin these methods has never been more pressing. We conducted an experiment on wild-caught bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) to assess cross-contamination risk under seven at-sea and laboratory-based tissue sampling treatments. The six at-sea treatments (T1–T6) differ in sampling equipment, cleaning, and storage procedures. Combining observed heterozygosity (Ho) and relatedness coefficients (r) to flag cross-contamination, treatments T2–T6 proved effective at mitigating contamination risk. Each exhibited significantly smaller mean Ho and less Ho variability compared with intentionally contaminated samples in the T1 treatment. In T2-T6, no samples flagged as contaminated based on Ho outlier thresholds and elevated r were traced to the point of sampling at sea. Laboratory-based subsampling of T1 tissue (T7) also led to significantly smaller, less variable Ho values compared to T1, suggesting that recovery of samples contaminated onboard, or those of unknown provenance, is possible. We show that simple adjustments to current tissue sampling protocols dramatically reduce cross-contamination risk for downstream genetic analyses on tunas and potentially on other species and fisheries.

In Memoriam: William T. Hogarth

In Memoriam: William T. Hogarth

ACCRETION OF THE OCEANIC CRUST IN THE MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE (48°–51.5° N) IN THE PROCESS OF “DRY” SPREADING

The paper is based on geological and geophysical data obtained during 53-th expedition of the research vessel “Akademik Nikolaj Strakhov”. We analyze the structure of Mid-Atlantic Ridge segment, 400 km long in the North Atlantic (between 48° and 51.5° N). According to our studies, this segment is characterized by specific structures formed during the formation of the oceanic crust with reduced basaltic melts supply, which, with going extension in the rift valley, leads to tectonic outcropping of deep lower crustal and mantle rocks. Such processes, called “dry” spreading, were previously unknown in the North Atlantic.

On Synergy between Convective Equatorial Signals and Monsoon Intraseasonal Oscillations in the Bay of Bengal

Abstract The relationship between eastward-propagating convective equatorial signals (CES) along the equatorial Indian Ocean (EIO) and the northward-propagating monsoon intraseasonal oscillations (MISOs) in the Bay of Bengal (BOB) was studied using observational datasets acquired during the 2018 and 2019 MISO-BOB field campaigns. Convective envelopes of MISOs originating from just south of the BOB were associated with both strong and weak eastward CES (average speed ∼6.4 m s−1). Strong CES contributed to ∼20% of the precipitation budget of BOB, and they spurred northward-propagating convective signals that matched the canonical speed of MISOs (1–2 m s−1). In contrast, weak CES contributed to ∼14% of the BOB precipitation budget, and they dissipated without significant northward propagation. Eastward-propagating intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs; period 30–60 days) and convectively coupled Kelvin waves (CCKWs; period 4–15 days) accounted for most precipitation variability across the EIO during the 2019 boreal summer as compared with that of 2018. An agreement could be noted between high moisture content in the midtroposphere and the active phases of CCKWs and ISOs for two observational locations in the BOB. Basin-scale thermodynamic conditions prior to the arrival of strong or weak CES revealed warmer or cooler sea surface temperatures, respectively. Flux measurements aboard a research vessel suggest that the evolution of MISOs associated with strong CES are signified by local enhanced air–sea interactions, in particular the supply of local moisture and sensible heat, which could enhance deep convection and further moisten the upper troposphere. Significance Statement Eastward-propagating convective signals along the equatorial Indian Ocean and their relationship to the northward-propagating spells of rainfall that lead to moisture variability in the Bay of Bengal are studied for the 2018 and 2019 southwest monsoon seasons using observational datasets acquired during field campaigns. Strong convective equatorial signals spurred northward-propagating convection, as compared with weak signals that dissipated without significant northward propagation. Wave spectral analysis showed CCKWs (period 4–15 days), and eastward ISOs (period 30–60 days) accounted for most of the precipitation variability, with the former dominating during the 2018 boreal summer. High moisture periods observed from radiosonde measurements show agreement with the active phases of CCKWs and ISOs.

Performance Assessment of the Medium Frequency R-Mode Baltic Testbed at Sea near Rostock

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are the primary source of position, navigation and timing (PNT) information in the maritime domain. Nevertheless, there is a pressing need for alternative absolute position information to serve as a backup when GNSS is not trustworthy or usable. One possible alternative navigation system is the terrestrial Ranging Mode, also known as the R-Mode. It reuses medium frequency (MF) radio beacons and base stations of the very high frequency data exchange system (VDES) for the transmission of synchronised signals in the service areas of those stations. A large-scale R-Mode testbed is available in the southern Baltic Sea with eight MF radio beacons transmitting R-Mode signals. These signals suffer the self-interference generated by the reflection of the radio wave from the ionosphere at night. The reflected signal, known as the sky wave in the literature, is a form of multipath, which decreases the accuracy of the system. In our work, we present the analysis of measurements obtained with the research vessel Deneb. The horizontal accuracy achieved in the optimal condition was 15.1 m (95%), whereas under the sky wave, the accuracy decreased to 55.3 m. The results are a starting point for the further development of the MF R-Mode system.

Fishing Enclosure as a Simple Approach to Stimulate Spawning Success of Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822) in Bangladesh

The study was intended to assess the impact of fishing enclosure during the peak breeding time of hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha on its breeding success. During the last peak breeding season of hilsa (October 4-25, 2021) a comprehensive investigation was attempt to evaluate the impact of fishing enclosure by “MV Rupali Ilish” research vessel, speedboat and experimental fishing net were deployed to demeanor a rigorous investigation in and around the spawning grounds areas (about 7,000 sq km, including Moulvirchar, Monpura, Dhalchar and Kalirchar). Additionally, data were also assumed from landing stations (via terrestrial cruises) near the spawning ground areas and other hilsa prone region of Bangladesh. The percentage of spent hilsa (locally called pite) and oozing hilsa were monitored following a standard protocol. Among all the hilsa captured in and around the spawning grounds, the proportion of male and female were 16-41% and 85-97%, respectively of the total catch, suggesting a male and female sex ratio (1:2.3). The rate of breeding success in 2021 was 51.76% i.e., 51.7% hilsa successfully participated in the breeding process which was 103.52% higher than the base year (2001-02). The approximate number of fertilized eggs in 2021 was 7,86,314 kg. Increased production of hilsa eggs and jatka indicated a positive impact of twenty-two days fishing enclosure. Percentages of gravid and oozing hilsa were also found higher compared to previous years. Due to the prohibition of all types of fishing, the percentage of female hilsa in the breeding areas increased up to 83.96%. Overall, twenty-two days fishing enclosure was found very effective for successful spawning of hilsa.

Reencounter with the past: occurrence of sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) in an old hunting area in the south-eastern Pacific Ocean

The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) was intensively exploited throughout its range, with about 110.000 individuals hunted by pelagic fleets in Antarctic waters between 1960 and 1970. In addition, basic information on its distribution, migratory routes, and feeding grounds in the southeastern Pacific, has been poorly documented. In the case of Chile, recent information consists mainly of accidental records. This research presents the first sei whale photo-identification catalog for south-central Chile. From November 2019 to January 2020, 88 individuals were recorded from land-based and boat surveys at Caleta Chome. Of these, 12 individuals were photo-identified through scars or distinctive notches in the dorsal fins. The peak of sightings occurred during December 2019; two individuals were sighted on more than one occasion.

Photo-identification of franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) in Babitonga Bay, Santa Catarina State, Brazil

The franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a small cetacean endemic to the South Atlantic distributed in coastal waters from Espírito Santo State in Brazil to Chubut Province in Argentina. Babitonga Bay, on the northern coast of Santa Catarina State, Brazil, is home to the only known franciscana population that resides throughout the year in an estuary. Photo-identification is a technique that serves to identify individuals in their natural environment through photographs of natural or artificial body marks. The objective of this paper was to assess the feasibility of identifying individuals from this population from marks present on the dorsal fin and the body. From February 2011 to August 2013, 172 boat surveys were carried out in Babitonga Bay. Groups of franciscanas were recorded on 576 occasions and on 542 of these (94.09%) were photographed. A total of 6,953 (11.89%) from a total of 58,471 photographs were considered of high enough quality to distinguish the features used to identify individuals. Throughout the sampling period, 23 franciscanas were identified. Most of the animals exhibited nicks on the trailing edge of the dorsal fin (82.6%), a mark of longterm duration. Scratches were recorded on only one animal on a single occasion. The rate of resightings ranged from 5.26% to 78.95%, with 39.13% of the individuals showing a rate higher than 50%. A total of 41.8% of the Babitonga Bay population was identified by the presence of marks on the dorsal fin. The study indicates that photo-identification can be applied to franciscanas, which may allow the realisation of various future studies. Because of this species threatened status, the use of this technique may become particularly important for monitoring franciscanas in Babitonga Bay and perhaps in other regions.

CAGE20-3 Cruise Report: Geochemical and Sedimentological Investigation into Ingøydjupet, Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano and the Sorvestnaget Sand Waves

This expedition ran between July 28 and August 3 2020, targeting three sites in the Barents Sea, an area of glacial landforms in Ingøydjupet trough, the Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano and the Sorvestnaget Sand Wave area. Our short but productive expedition gave three post-doctoral researchers the opportunity to follow a research hypothesis from conception through planning and data collection aboard the research vessel, as well as plan and lead a research expedition. At the Ingøydjupet and Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano study areas, our objectives were to collect cores for geochemical analyses of the area and bathymetry data for geophysical analyses while the objectives at the sand waves are were to collect a time-lapse multibeam survey and grab samples for sedimentological analysis
 The cruise may be known as: CAGE20_3