FRV Alba Na Mara 0713A
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) |
| Cruise identifier | 0713A |
| Cruise period | 2013-05-23 — 2013-06-10 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To undertake grab, underwater television (UTV) and RoxAnn surveys of Orkney sea disposal sites at Orkney, Kirkwall, Stromness and Scapa and assess the condition of the seabed, identify the predominant benthic epifauna species, and the distribution of man-made debris. 2. To undertake grab, underwater television (UTV) and RoxAnn surveys of Shetland sea disposal sites at Scalloway and Lerwick and assess the condition of the seabed, identify the predominant benthic epifauna species, and the distribution of man-made debris. 3. To undertake grab, UTV and RoxAnn surveys of the North Coast sea disposal sites at Scrabster, Thurso and Gills Bay and assess the condition of the seabed, identify the predominant benthic epifauna species, and the distribution of man-made debris. Some of the disposal sites are added as contingency. 4. To undertake grab, UTV and RoxAnn surveys of the Moray Firth sea disposal sites at Wick, Helmsdale, Sutors, Cromarty, Nairn, Burghead, and Buckie and assess the condition of the seabed, identify the predominant benthic epifauna species, and the distribution of man-made debris. Some of the disposal sites are added as contingency. 5. To undertake grab, UTV and RoxAnn surveys of the Ardersier area with a view to investigating possible temporary storage areas for turbines and bases prior to transfer to marine offshore wind farms. 6. To undertake grab, UTV and RoxAnn surveys of the East Coast disposal sites at Aberdeen and Montrose and assess the condition of the seabed, identify the predominant benthic epifauna species, and the distribution of man-made debris. This objective has been added as a contingency. 7. Sediment samples for Objectives 1-6 will be analysed for chemical and physical parameters. Procedure Engineering staff and equipment will be transported to Fraserburgh on 21 May and set-up accordingly. On 23 May, staff will be transported to Fraserburgh to load the vessel and set-up selected survey equipment. The Alba na Mara will depart Fraserburgh as soon as possible, and proceed to Orkney to start the work programme outlined in Objectives 1-6. Each sea disposal site will be surveyed in turn, starting at Orkney (FI020) before moving north to Shetland then returning south to further Orkney sites, along the North Coast and into the Moray Firth. The crew change, where R Main, A Keir and A Ford will replace D Walker, T Roberts and A Sutherland will occur on 31 May in Scrabster. The Alba na Mara will then move east to continue with the remaining objectives as outlined above, arriving in Fraserburgh for unloading on 10 June. |
| Chief scientist | Colin Megginson (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.02 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
| Specific | Orkney, Shetland, Moray Firth, North and East coasts of Scotland |
