The German Research Vessel (RV) Meteor is currently on the island for a short stint, as it prepares for its next voyage to the Azores.

 

On Monday a brief ceremony was held on board the vessel currently docked in the Bridgetown Port as a number of specially invited guests including officials from the Division of Energy, the Coastal Zone Management Unit and students from the University of the West Indies to name a few, learned about the capabilities of this impressive vessel.

 

Captain Rainer Hammacher while welcoming guests, explained that this is the fourth time that the meteor has been on the island, the others being 1996, 2004 and 2010. “The Meteor is an ocean going platform to perform research activities in almost all oceanographic disciplines; scientists from all over the world have been on board doing their studies in their specific field of research,” he explained.

 

He stated that the high-tech vessel which officially started its services in 1986, has sailed an equivalent of 30 times around the world. The Captain also explained that scientists can collect samples out of the air, water columns, place moorings on the sea floor and utilise various instruments for several fields including biology, geology, chemistry and physics.

 

Members of the crew took guests on a tour of the vessel which includes modern navigational equipment, echo sounders as well as amenities such as a gym, bar and lounge area, games room, Wi-Fi and a hospital with a doctor always on call.

 

The obvious pride and joy of the vessel are the Hybis which is a remote operated vehicle, as well as the Abyss which is an autonomous underwater vehicle, both of which can be used to map the sea floor.

While not currently carrying out work in Barbados, one of the co-chief scientists Jorg Bialas, says the RV Meteor is always willing to work in co-operation with governments to carry out research. “We develop a research project and then we try to address and answer certain questions. On the basis of research, they can hire us, but we much prefer to work in co-operation. We measure and deliver your measurement, and we like to learn from our measuring to write our scientific publications,” he explained.

 

The next port of call will be Porta Delgada in the Azores. (JH)