We are amongst some very dramatic icebergs at various stages of decay. There are lots of crazy triangular tilts, some long tabulars, many with massive glowing caves, decaying fringes and yawning cracks.

Sharing the stage is the backdrop of the Antarctic continent. We steam parallel to it all day and because it might be my last glimpse I'm up and down to the bridge for regular good long looks.

The ship is a fascinating combination of complex and traditional technologies. Take the 'French beam trawl' which is doing so much of the benthic work. In the end it's just a four and a bit metre long lump of wood with a 35 centimetre frame to keep the mouth of a ten metre long prawn net open to the catch.

Sounds simple, but it's a workhorse that needs constant care. Which is where the skills of the fisherman from Brittany in France come in. Jean-Francois Barazer's job is to keep the beam trawl in order. He must modify the net to suit local conditions and repair it when it is damaged. It must be custom made for the ship it's used on because the size and horsepower both affect the operation of the French beam trawl. So Jean-Francois brings his own container carrying his tool kit and spare parts. He has an array of nylon twine, needles, knives, thick rope, rubber wheels, a marlin spike for making the loops and netting. He carries spare frames, another beam, chains, and lots of netting for replacements and patches.

He has just refashioned the trawl so it will bring in less mud and rocks. Now he's patching the net. He's very quick with the knife as he counts and cuts the knots in a line forming a perfect square. The new patch will be knotted into the space and the net will be ready to carry something like 500 kilos of catch once again.

It may take a while for Jean-Francois to return to his usual fishing grounds off the coast of Scotland. He's found a niche market for his skills preparing nets for scientific work throughout the Pacific Islands of Fiji, the Solomons, French Plynesia, New Caledonia and Vanuatu and after this voyage he is heading for Taiwan to prepare a net for a scientist.

Meanwhile our CEAMARC benthic sampling continues to yield treasure from the deep. At this rate we will complete the schedule as planned and with a little tweaking of the grid accommodate the dense ice we'll encounter tomorrow north of the French station at Dumont D'Urville.



Pics:
Jean-Francois Barazer x2

Margot Foster is a journalist currently on board the Australian Aurora Australis, an Australian research vessel currently participating in the Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML, IPY project 53). She works with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).