Wednesday, July 14, 2010 / Spitsbergen In Depth
R/V Akademik Ioffe
Rijpfjord & Sea Ice, Svalbard
06:00 / Early Bird coffee is served in the Lounge
07:00 / Wake-up call
07:30 / Breakfast is served in the Dining Room
09:00 / We plan to zodiac cruise the fast ice at Rijpfjord
Rijpfjord is located in the central part of the northern coast of Nordaustland, where waters are badly charted, contain shallows and are thus accordingly difficult. The fjord is named after Jan Cornelisz Rijpm a member of all Willem Barents' expeditions. An interesting piece of history: in the innermost area of the fjord lies a bay called Wordiebukta, into which a German navy submarine and Norwegian boat brought a wartime meteorological detachment in 1944. The remoteness was used to protect the weather station, code named "Haudegen" (meaning something similar to "warhorse"). After the war, the station continued to send uncoded weather reports, and mine belts and grenades were destroyed. The "Haudegen" detachment was the last German military unit to officially surrender (on 04 September, 1945).
We are unable to delve deep into the fjord due to the fast ice, though that is what brings us here. We are unlikely to encounter such a vast area of fast fjord ice anywhere else on our voyage, and our aim is to explore the ice edge via Zodiac.
12:30 / Lunch is served in the Dining Room
14:00 / The Gift Shop will be open
15:00 / Please join our geologist Yvonne for Frozen Oceans in the Presentation Room on Deck 1
17:00 / Please join our marine biologist Christian for What’s the Deal With Seals? In the Presentation Room on Deck 1
TBA / We will approach the sea ice north of Prins Oscars Land to attempt our navigation
18:30 / Your Bartender, Diane, invites you to enjoy a cocktail during Happy Hour in the Bar (Deck 3)
19:30 /

Dinner is served in the Dining Room

21:15 / Bar Talk Please join Scott in the Bar for one of his Arctic tales
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Doctor: Mark Freedman- Cabin 538 - Phone 667 (Deck 5, starboard side, opposite the Clinic)
Reception: Phone 622 (Deck 3)
Hotel Office: The Hotel Office is located on Deck 3. Please ask Eric if you have any questions or concerns.
Radio Room: Phone 616 (Deck 6, adjacent to the Bridge)
Bridge: Phone 666 in case of emergency (Deck 6)
Gift shop opening times will be announced via the Public Announcement system