Most of the time when you’re packing for a trip, most things are not critical. Sure, its always better if you don’t have to run to the store upon arrival, but there will be stores. Even when you head out camping, chances are if you really need something you forgot, you can go to the local shops it just may cost you a couple hours. But fieldwork is different, especially when you’re working at sea – you can’t pull up to the local Target, and Amazon most certainly will not deliver.
I’m back at sea, this time for 2 months on RV Sonne. Part of the German Research Fleet, RV Sonne is the longest ship I’ve sailed on to date at 116 m (and one of the newer ones, built in 2014). Our 23 person science party have all made our way from our home institutions around the world to meet the vessel in Mauritius, and embark on over a week of transit to get to our study area on the Kerguelen Plateau. But packing all had to start before I even left Australia, shipments of gear was being organized 4+ months in advance. And in some ways, the gear lists are easy – I know I need x centrifuge tubes per core and best case scenario is we will get y cores, so x *y is straightforward math. But how many of us actually know how long a tube of toothpaste lasts? Do I need 2? 3 even? I’m really not sure so I pack what will undoubtedly prove to be too much. It’s all part of the fun!
The starting point for packing personal gear to go to sea is pretty standard, and I have it down to one or two files on my computer to send students as a ‘first pass’ on what to bring – foul weather gear, work boots (steel caps!), layers, hat for the cold and a hat for the sun, sun glasses, and the list goes on. But some of packing is very individualized. Food is rarely an issue on a research voyage, you will be fed constantly and the food will be amazing- this trip is no exception to the rule. But do you have a favorite brand/snack? Want Cheeze-its? Or Tim Tams? You may want to bring them along. The ship is your home for however long the voyage lasts, that means if you use it/want it in a normal week, you probably want to bring it. I’m rarely without at least a few chocolate bars in the suitcase. The RV Sonne is a bit different than other ships I’ve been on in that it has an on-board store, so you do get the opportunity several times of week to buy snacks, drinks, and even some toiletries and souvenirs. While this does provide the opportunity to fill in gaps in packing or restock this trip, this isn’t always the case, and there is never a guarantee as to what will be available. But thanks to the store, I’ve rediscovered just how much I like pretzel sticks…
While at sea, the ship is home- it is where you live and work. Its amazing how long a 24 hr day actually is when you don’t have to cook, clean, or commute so bringing things to do to relax after shift is also important- movies, books, ipod, camera, etc. I could stare at the ocean for hours (and often do and am particularly excited when that time is rewarded with a dolphin or whale sighting) but there is nothing quite like a book after a long shift on a cold rainy day. And cold is something we expect this trip, we are in the Southern Ocean after all.
aprilabbott 