September 21, 2019
Finally, the day we were all waiting for! Much excitement as we left port and began our adventure. We had our first general meeting, learned the emergency protocols and familiarized ourselves with what would be our home for the next 6 weeks. The Akademik Fedorov is a huge ship and the hallways seemed like a maze, this made knowing what to do in an emergency of the utmost importance. There are many dangerous aspects of being on a working ship – heavy machinery, cargo that can shift, and slippery decks to name a few. It’s important to always listen to your crew and leaders, and follow their directives.
Expedition safety training (© Mario Hoppman).
We really only had regular access to a few rooms: the mess hall, a small lounge room, the gym, the dry lab and the lecture room. As the days went on, we became more familiar with the ship and developed a routine. Students shared 3-4 people per room, when it’s more customary to only be two. We got to know each other really well over the following weeks.
Ryleigh showing off our spacious accommodation (© Rosalie McKay).
