Day 1 Welcome aboard: Christian Halverson
As rookies to this sort of game Chantelle, my fellow educator on board, and I were met by CSIRO’s onshore liaison Vicki and taken through some last minute discussions as to what was expected.
Garden Island is a curious place, security as befits a Naval centre, large grey behemoths looming in the back ground and yet locals peering past the wire and gates for a glimpse of something exciting. I guess the ship I am on was something a little more unusual for the locals to ogle at.
We were met at the gangway by Marine National Facility staff Zoe and Ben. Dragging our bags onboard we headed down into the confines of our home for the next two weeks. Always a hub of activity this is where we are to eat and get to know our fellow workers. The second mate takes us through the important security and alarm systems and pre warns us that the first drill will happen later tonight. Hard hat and life jackets will need to be brought to the muster station and a proper head count will ensure we are all ready to abandon ship if needs be. Rather glad this was not going to happen as even though I have always loved the harbour it was unlikely to be a pleasant dip!
Another quick tour of the facilities, laundry, bridge, labs etc. Every time I watch crime shows or the like the forensics labs are so clean, full of high tech computers and displays it is no wonder they catch the criminals. The tour of RV Investigator’s labs give us a far greater understanding of real-world tools fit for purpose, none of this 3D display nonsense, here is where real science, dirty science could be conducted. Some labs are spartan, others filled with an array of bottles, jars, pipes and computers all reading the latest happenings in the waters outside the ship. An IT rich area with a dozen screens will display a swath of the ocean floor as we power above it north towards the Torres Strait.
Our next briefing is with Hugh the Voyage Manager, we introduce ourselves and then get down to who the people on board are, their responsibilities and their focus for the journey. I start to think how can I assist anyone of these science staff? They seem so confident in what they want to achieve, won’t I just get in the way?
We slip the dockside on time and are quietly piloted out through Sydney Heads. Most glanced back at the illuminated beauty that is Sydney Harbour, others set about their duties, keen to see the first night go without incident. No rain, nice weather and the heads are not that rough, the ship does not pitch and roll that much.
As the early night wears on, I wander onto the outer deck to see some silver gulls drifting lazily around the vessel hoping to spot the odd fish disturbed by our wake. Not long after I make my way back to my cabin, only losing my way three or four times and sink into my bed. A little quite reading I thought to myself. But with the gentle lap of the water on Investigator’s hull and the slight up and down movement, I drift to sleep. The adventure has begun proper.
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