Dispatch 2: Refueling
Jennifer Kosty (Yale University)
September 19, 2026
13:05 local, 69.01◦N, 105.08◦W
Conditions:
- 0% sea ice cover
- 1.0◦C
- Sunrise: 06:31 MDT (local)
- Sunset: 19:15 MDT (local)
- Day length: 12 hours, 44 minutes
We spent the night in Cambridge Bay, so the Louis could refuel before we begin our long journey to the Canada Basin. Refueling began early in the morning and was an all-day operation. In the meantime, the science team kept busy with preparations for our upcoming work. In the main lab, the analysts assembled and tested the systems that will be used to process water samples throughout the cruise. Celine Gueguen and Clement Feriot unpacked their instruments for analyzing dissolved organic matter (DOM) samples, while Michiyo Yamamoto-Kawai and Tsukushi Komura prepared the alkalinity measuring-system. Meanwhile, Francesca Loro prepared solutions for processing chlorophyll (CHL) samples on board.
At 11 am, co-chief scientist Paul Macoun led the first science meeting in the Louis’ board room. These meetings will occur daily, so all members of the science team remain updated on the day-to-day operations. At the start of the meeting, our on-board ice specialist Roxanne gave a presentation about the weather, wave, and ice conditions we should expect over the next few days. Luckily, the weather is forecast to be mild, with calm seas and clear skies. Afterwards, we all went down to the mess and enjoyed a lunch of quesadillas (chicken and veggie), Mexican rice, and sweet potato fries.
We will spend the rest of this afternoon continuing to prepare for the upcoming science operations. Refueling should conclude late this evening, after which we will begin the long steam towards our first science station!
