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MORI’s Second Season Launches with International Research Cruise

By June 23, 2022February 9th, 2023No Comments

This week, MEOPAR is launching the second cruise season of the Modular Ocean Research Infrastructure (MORI) initial development and demonstration project, transforming non-specialized vessels into complex ocean research vessels. Thanks to the MORI project, this year, two scientific research cruises will have access to the ship time they need at a time when that access is dwindling.

“What’s exciting is that 12 months ago, MORI was simply a vision. It was just an idea of what could be. Last year we started to turn that vision into a reality with our first cruise season, and we learned a lot of lessons. Now we’re using those lessons learned in the second season, moving further along that path of turning that original vision into a reality,” said Dan Gibson, Project Manager for MORI.

A unique solution for ocean research

MORI is an alternative pathway for vessel-based ocean research using a modular system of containerized, interoperable laboratories and research infrastructure. These can be used to transform a range of non-specialized vessels into temporary research vessels.

This model is potentially more flexible, economical, scalable and can be delivered faster than the construction or purchase of a new fleet of specialized research vessels. The infrastructure will also be ready for use on new, low-carbon vessels of the near future.

MORI holds major potential to transform how ocean research is conducted in Canada. It also opens up new opportunities for the Canadian marine industry. Read more about MORI’s first cruise season here.

Access to research ship time is dwindling for Canadian researchers. Earlier this year, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Hudson was retired, ending decades of research cruises supporting three generations of Canada’s ocean scientists.

Second season cruises

Mobilization to change the industry vessel Atlantic Condor of Atlantic Towing Ltd. into a temporary research vessel will begin on Friday, June 22, 2022, with the ship slated to depart the week after.

The first cruise is part of the Fog and Turbulence Interactions in the Marine Atmosphere (FATIMA) project and will set sail for the waters east of Sable Island and then up to Newfoundland. The project involves scientists from several US universities, funded by US Office of Naval Research, along with Canadian researchers from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Dalhousie University. Principal investigators are Harindra Joseph (Joe) Fernando (University of Notre Dame), Clive Dorman (University of California, San Diego), Eric Pardyjak (University of Utah), Lian Shen (University of Minnesota), Qing Wang (Naval Postgraduate School). MEOPAR-supported researcher Rachel Chang of Dalhousie University is also part of the study.

The second cruise will be led by scientists from Dalhousie University and five other Canadian Universities, with support from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, researching deep-water coral, sponge, and seep habitats along the Northwest Atlantic shelf and slope. That cruise is set to begin in early August. The principal investigators are Owen Sherwood (Dalhousie University) Chris Algar (Dalhousie University), Evan Edinger (Memorial University), Casey Hubert (University of Calgary), Audrey Limoges (University of New Brunswick), Annie Mercier (Memorial University),  Katleen Robert (Memorial University), Paul Snelgrove (Memorial University), and Brett Walker (University of Ottawa).

MORI’s Initial Development and Demonstration (IDD) phase is supported by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. with $2 million in funding as part of the company’s Industrial and Technical Benefits commitment under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. MEOPAR has committed a $1 million contribution to research cruise support. The project also has support from COVE Ocean – Centre for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship, where the Atlantic Condor transformation is occurring, as well as from the National Research Council, Natural Resources Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Defence Research and Development Canada, and Hawboldt Industries.

Contact:

Evelyn Hornbeck,
Communications Manager, MEOPAR
Evelyn.hornbeck@meopar.ca
902-403-6804

Download a press release about the MORI cruise season launch.

Download Press Release