The 2017 Arctic Shelf Growth, Advection, Respiration and Deposition Rate Measurements (ASGARD) expedition got off to an unofficial start this week as several members of the science team boarded the R/V Sikuliaq in Dutch Harbor. While in port, Sikuliaq crew and the science team loaded up the vessel with many tons of gear, equipment, supplies, fuel, and fresh food, and hosted a vessel tour for members of the Dutch Harbor/Unalaska community.

Our skeleton science team made use of the three-day transit from Dutch Harbor to get things organized in the laboratories, install optical equipment on the Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) rosette, prepare the mooring equipment, conduct a few test casts with the CTD rosette, and review sampling protocols and cruise plans. 

It was smooth sailing all the way into Nome.  Soon, the real work will begin.

R/V Sikuliaq at the dock in Dutch Harbor. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

R/V Sikuliaq at the dock in Dutch Harbor. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Aerial view of R/V Sikuliaq at the Dutch Harbor docks prior to the 2017 ASGARD cruise. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Stephanie and Rachel carry gear into the lab. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Stephanie and Rachel carry gear into the lab. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Crane operations bringing our science gear onboard the vessel. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Crane operations bringing our science gear onboard the vessel. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Hauling in the dock lines. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Hauling in the dock lines. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Heading north out of Dutch Harbor. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Heading north out of Dutch Harbor. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

The Conductivity, Temperature, Depth rosette deployed over the side of the vessel for our first test cast and water collection. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

The Conductivity, Temperature, Depth rosette deployed over the side of the vessel for our first test cast and water collection. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

CTD rosette recovery through the Baltic Room of the R/V Sikuliaq. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

CTD rosette recovery through the Baltic Room of the R/V Sikuliaq. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Seth readies one of the water samplers for the moorings the ASGARD team will deploy at sea for a full year. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Seth readies one of the water samplers for the moorings the ASGARD team will deploy at sea for a full year. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

The high-tech bridge of the R/V Sikuliaq. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

The high-tech bridge of the R/V Sikuliaq. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

The CTD rosette, loaded with water sampling bottles and optical instrumentation sits ready in the Baltic Room. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

The CTD rosette, loaded with water sampling bottles and optical instrumentation sits ready in the Baltic Room. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Quiet corridors of the R/V Sikuliaq main deck as we transited north with a skeleton science team. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Quiet corridors of the R/V Sikuliaq main deck as we transited north with a skeleton science team. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Mooring anchors and floats, as well as the multi-core sit ready on the back deck for the upcoming deployments. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Mooring anchors and floats, as well as the multi-core sit ready on the back deck for the upcoming deployments. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Pete readies an acoustic mooring release in the main lab. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Pete readies an acoustic mooring release in the main lab. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Stephanie connects the Underwater Vision Profiler to the computer. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Stephanie connects the Underwater Vision Profiler to the computer. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

The Conductivity, Temperature, Depth rosette deployed out the Baltic Room door. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

The Conductivity, Temperature, Depth rosette deployed out the Baltic Room door. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Chief Scientist Seth operates the CTD rosette from the computer lab while Ethan, one of R/V Sikuliaq's marine technicians, oversees its operation.

Chief Scientist Seth operates the CTD rosette from the computer lab while Ethan, one of R/V Sikuliaq's marine technicians, oversees its operation.

Pulling into Nome harbor. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

Pulling into Nome harbor. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

The R/V Sikuliaq is dockside in Nome. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell

The R/V Sikuliaq is dockside in Nome. Photo credit: Andrew McDonnell