FRV Alba Na Mara 1112A
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) |
| Cruise identifier | 1112A |
| Cruise period | 2012-06-30 — 2012-07-04 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To test the deployment, recovery and towing characteristics of the VMUX chariot, loaded with a variety of instrumentation and cameras. 2. To calibrate flow-meters. 3. To monitor and test the thermosalinograph (TSG) and fluorometer instrumentation. 4. To train MSS staff in the use of the Reson swathe system (3 July). Procedures Loading of equipment will take place on Thursday 28 June, including spooling a new 1700 m net-sonde cable onto the TV winch. Setting-up and testing activities may continue on Friday 29 June. On completion of safety drills and vessel tours on the morning of Saturday 30 June, Alba will sail and commence trials on the VMUX towed platform. The working area will be the Moray Firth in at least 100 m water depth. Practical deployment and recovery procedures will be developed, before carrying out a series of reciprocal tows to calibrate and test the on-board cameras and instrumentation. The towing load of the VMUX platform will be monitored using a self-recording load-cell. On completion of VMUX trials, a calibration ring supporting up to three flow-meters will be towed at a variety of fixed speeds, in reciprocal directions. Throughout the survey, the TSG will be monitored to confirm operation. It is proposed to offload the net-sonde cable during the afternoon of Monday 2 July, for which a powered spooler will be tested (local agent Bruce Strachan Ltd). This will require the vessel to be moored stern-on to the pier. If the powered spooler is not practical then the cable will be removed by hand. A Reson engineer will visit Alba on Tuesday 3 July to demonstrate the use of the new swathe system to MSS staff Alba will return to Fraserburgh each evening after completion of work. Gear will be off-loaded on Wednesday 4 July. Normal contacts will be maintained with the Laboratory. |
| Chief scientist | Chris D Hall (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | FRPRM9 (20040) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.02 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
| Specific | Moray Firth |
