Between the 25th and 28th of September, the research vessel Ciência do Mar III made its first official departure. The main objective was to carry out a series of equipment tests and training in operational and safety procedures, since the ship had not yet, due to the pandemic, made any cruise.
The cruise was attended by four professors from the Geology and Geophysics, Biology and Geochemistry departments, in addition to 6 undergraduate and graduate students from the Geophysics and Biology courses (approximately 55% of the vessel’s capacity). Before departure, a health protocol was created in which all people on board, including crew members and researchers, should have taken at least one dose of the vaccine. In addition, 3 days before boarding, an RT-PCR test was performed on all cruise participants. Between the exam day and the departure date, everyone maintained social isolation in their own homes or on board (in the case of the crew), only leaving for the ship on the day of boarding. This protocol was set up based on the criteria adopted by the offshore industry.
The area chosen was the region of Ilha Grande Bay, as it is a region close to Rio de Janeiro, with shallow and calm waters, allowing tests to be carried out with maximum safety conditions. During the cruise, high-resolution bathymetry and seismic geophysical equipment were tested. In addition, all winches have been tested with geological samplers, plankton nets, for biological research. On the operational side, engines and generators were tested at their maximum operating capacity; anchor winch tests; ship maneuverability tests; launch of rescue boat. This cruise was important to verify the effectiveness of the procedures. Specific issues were identified and are being corrected, in order to improve the performance of the crew in terms of operational efficiency and safety.
