Have you ever wondered what happens on ships when they are at sea at Christmas? Crews aboard research vessels from the Southampton-based National Oceanographic Center (NOC) gave a glimpse of the holiday season on the ocean waves, including Christmas carols and – if a captain is so inclined – watching Frozen.
Both research vessels managed by the centre, and Royal Research Ship (RRS) James Cook and Discover RRSin the Atlantic Ocean during this Christmas period, delivering or traveling between scientific missions.
But being away from home, family, and friends doesn’t get in the way of the holiday spirit — even… NOC’s underwater robot Autosub Long Range, also known as Boaty McBoatfacein the seasonal verb.
The crew aboard the RRS Discovery gathers around a Christmas tree amidst the chaos. Image courtesy NOC
Captain John Leeskaboard the RRS James Cook, said that although they were still supporting a scientific expedition, Christmas would still be special, with family and friends back home in their every thought.
“Because of Santa’s workload, he usually doesn’t show up,” Captain Lisk says. “But we try to make this day special and a little bit like home, and at the end of the day, this will be our family on Christmas Day,” he added.
“We will sit down to a traditional meal on Christmas Day even though we are on our way, but the science behind our ship continues.”
The RRS James Cook and her crew will spend Christmas in the South Atlantic Ocean, eastern South America, in support of the Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT) programme.
This is a project that every year sees a research ship travel 12,000 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean to collect a range of samples. This will be the 31st time the AMT has been in operation, this time between its home port of Southampton and Montevideo in Uruguay, where it is scheduled to dock at the end of December.
The RRS James Cook crew pulls a cracker in front of the Christmas tree amidst the chaos, where the crew will share a traditional full roast turkey dinner on Christmas Day. Image courtesy NOC
To mark Christmas on board, decorations, including a traditional Christmas tree, were sprinkled around the ship.
Your Christmas turkey, kept in the refrigerator, will be thawed, ready for a four-course Christmas Day dinner, with all the trimmings.
“On some trips we photograph Secret Santa,” Captain Lisk says. “The year we didn’t have one, we all woke up and Santa left a little package for everyone, so you never know.”
For the cooks and stewards on board, Christmas Day is a busy day. The uniformed crew members will be in uniform and the captain will give a small speech and toast before sitting down at 1pm for dinner. For those who have space, there is an evening buffet.
“On Boxing Day, there is usually brunch to give the chefs and stewards a light day’s work,” adds Captain Lisk. “Everyone is carrying out their duties as usual on Boxing Day to ensure the ships are running well.”
Christmas is similar aboard RRS Discovery. The ship recently completed its latest expedition, maintaining scientific instruments on moorings 4 kilometers deep in the Atlantic Ocean, off Florida, helping to measure the great circulation of the oceans.
RRS Discovery officers on the decorated bridge (complete with Christmas tree) before sailing the Christmas Pass from Port Everglades, Florida. Image courtesy NOC
It is now on its way to Portugal where, after a stop in Lisbon, it will begin its next scientific voyage, a NOC-led project looking at underwater volcanoes in the Mediterranean.
RRS Discovery Captain Antonio Gatti “Most people make video calls primarily with their family and friends, now that the internet service from the ship has improved over the years.
“On some occasions, especially with a full crowd, we perform Christmas carols in the lounge, which are very popular. We haven’t decided if we’ll see a Christmas movie yet, but if it’s okay it will be Frozen!”
Most important of all for the crew is sending their wishes home. “On behalf of everyone on board, we would like to wish our family and friends a Merry Christmas,” says Captain Lisk.
Captain Gatti adds: “Best wishes this festive season, Christmas and New Year to all our friends and colleagues at NOC and the wider scientific community from all aboard RRS Discovery.”
[Words and Images reproduced, with permision from the National Oceanography Centre’s ‘Blogs at NOC’]
