Resources

RV Cefas Endeavour 9/09

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RV Cefas Endeavour (74E9)
Cruise identifier9/09
Cruise period2009-05-18 — 2009-06-14
StatusCompleted
Port of departureLowestoft, United Kingdom
Port of returnLowestoft, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe aims of the R/V CEFAS Endeavour 09/09 / BGS 2009/04 cruise were to acquire groundtruthing data; vibrocore, clamshell grab and 0.1m2 Hamon grab samples, 2m Jennings beam trawls and various camera techniques; and acoustic data; multibeam echo-sounder and dual frequency/single range sidescan sonar, in the East Coast Regional Environmental Characterisation area. This is the second phase of data acquisition following on from the geophysical survey carried out on board the R/V CEFAS Endeavour in September and October of 2008 (Cefas 2009). The cruise was carried out under contract for the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund.
The East Coast Regional Environmental Characterisation (EC REC) area is approximately 3300km2 and extends approximately 44km east of Ness Point. An acquisition programme of geophysical survey lines was undertaken in 2008 on board the RV CEFAS Endeavour. 2514.9 line kilometres of sidescan sonar, multibeam echo-sounder, magnetometer and AGDS (acoustic ground discrimination system) data were acquired of which 2365.2 line kilometres included surface tow boomer data.
The R/V CEFAS Endeavour 09/09 / BGS 2009/04 ground-truthing cruise acquired a total of 225 seabed samples and cores, photographic stills of the seabed from 81 sample sites, and processed 125 2m-beam trawls on board the vessel. 1194.27 line kilometres of high-resolution acoustic data were acquired. The survey was split into two legs. Leg A took place from the 18th to 24th May and primarily concentrated on geological and archaeological ground-truthing, which involved the use of the BGS 6m, Vibrocorer and Clamshell Grab. Leg B, which took place between the 24th May to 14th June, largely focused on biological ground-truthing, involving the use of the 0.1m2 Hamon grab, 2m-beam trawl and various camera techniques. Both legs were very successful.
The geophysical and ground-truthing data were acquired to complement existing data held by project partners and other organisations in order to map seabed morphology, fine-scale sediment structure, broader scale habitats and palaeo-landscapes. The combination of fine- and broadscale mapping is necessary for integrating the relationship between geophysical, archaeological and morphological features and the context in which they are found.
Chief scientistDavid Stephen Limpenny (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory)
ProjectALSF East Coast Regional Environmental Characterisation
Coordinating bodyBritish Geological Survey
Cruise programmeRV Cefas Endeavour 9/09 cruise programme endeavour9_09.pdf  (0.76 MB) 
Cruise reportRV Cefas Endeavour 9/09 cruise report endeavour9_09.pdf (1.16 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
SpecificNorth Sea