FRV Alba Na Mara 0618A
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) |
| Cruise identifier | 0618A |
| Cruise period | 2018-05-05 — 2018-05-14 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Greenock, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Greenock, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To conduct UWTV video assessments of PMFs abundance within southern, west-coast waters. 2. To conduct a grab survey within areas identified as suitable for Arctica islandica. Embarkation Scientists will join the vessel on 5 May around 11:00. Weather permitting Alba na Mara will depart from James Watt Dock, Greenock, on the same day, heading for the first survey site. The benthic survey will consist of a series of short (~10 min) UWTV video tows. To achieve this, the survey will utilise the newly built modular camera frame (combined drop and lander frame - 2460 × 1900 × 1940 mm, L × W × H) deployed from the aft of the vessel. Where the ground is hard, this frame will be deployed in the more compact drop frame configuration. Species type, species densities and substrate type (assessed visually) will be classified for each video transect post-survey. Grab samples may also be taken in areas where the bivalve, Arctica islandica, has been indicated to be present. Here, sediment samples will also be taken and frozen for particle size analysis. No formalin storage will necessary during this procedure. Survey operations will take place between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00 (all times BST). Work will cease on the morning or afternoon of 13 May to allow sufficient time for the vessel to travel to Greenock. Unloading will occur in James Watt Dock on Monday 14 May. Scientists will disembark at this time. |
| Chief scientist | Philip Boulcott (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.11 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland |
| Specific | Southwest of Scotland |