Our ships – and the men whose names they bear

1 G.O. Sars The work of the Institute of Marine Research The Institute's vision is "Knowledge and advice for rich and clean oceans and coastal areas". This means we will carry out scientific research to provide authorities, industry and the society in general with a broad and reliable basis for the management of our marine ecosystems. The aim of the management is to protect the marine environment and secure a high, but sustainable, yield of the fish stocks, other living marine resources and the aquaculture. The character of the ecosystems and the Contents environmental conditions require that such management must be based on extensive international cooperation, both among scientists and authorities. The Institute of Marine Research today 3 - 9 An important part of the research is directed towards fish stocks and other living The men who gave their names to our ships 10 - 30 resources which form the basis for the Norwegian . Monitoring stock The fleet today 30 - 39 fluctuations and continuously improve the knowledge will provide more reliable assessments of the marine production and hence better management. The environmental research is also extensive, both by monitoring climatic changes and chemical pollution, and by investigating how such factors may influence the conditions for the living resources. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) contributes to the development of the marine aquaculture industry by providing new, basic biological knowledge related to salmonids, marine species, mussels and shellfish. This includes genetics, physiology, fish welfare and fish health. Other research topics cover the ecosystem in the coastal zone, bottom fauna populations on the continental shelf and fishing gear technology. The research carried out at IMR is initiated and financed through five research and advisory programmes and five special research programmes. The research activities are currently conducted by 19 specific research groups. Large components of the Institute's research are based on biological and physical observations from the oceans and coastal areas, i.e. data collected on research cruises by the Institute's fleet of ships. The extensive use of field observations This text is based on an earlier publication written by gives Norwegian marine research special research strength, today as well as Per Solemdal and Sigmund Myklevoll. Revised 2009 historically. This will be illustrated in the following. by Erling Bakken and Ingunn E. Bakketeig.

2 3 The Institute of Marine Research today The Institute of Marine Research Our research stations The Institute’s headquarters are at Nordnes Point in , Flødevigen Research Station lies on Hisøy near Arendal. The station was Nordnesgaten 50. Here are the offices of the Managing Director, established by Gunder Mathiesen Dannevig in 1882, when most of its work dealt the Norwegian Marine Data Centre, the Public Relations and with hatching and releasing of cod larvae. The main activities of the station today Communication Department, the Library and some technical are related to research on environmental topics, biological production and carrying support functions. The main building also houses research groups capacity, as well as providing management advice for the coastal zone. working on environmental quality, plankton, shellfish, fish health and genetics, and modern laboratories. Matre Research Station, on the shore of Masfjorden, north of Bergen, was The Bergen Aquarium is the next-door-neighbour, and a shared established in 1971. The station was extended and modernized in 2005/2006. system for water supply from the sea off Nordnes supplies the The research has mainly been on salmon and trout, but after the modernization, research laboratories of the Institute. activities have in addition included studies on climate effects, fish welfare and reproduction of marine fish species. Our building in Nordnesgaten 33 accommodates scientists and technicians studying fish resources, sea mammals and climate. Austevoll Research Station, which lies on the island of Huftarøy in Austevoll, The Directorate of Fisheries is located in a connected building. was established in 1978. The activities of the station are concentrated on a wide Just down the road, in C. Sundts gate 64, we find the research groups range of marine aquaculture species, including halibut, cod, haddock, scallops, for fish capture, bottom habitats and observation methodology. lobster and wrasse. Here is also the Centre for Development Cooperation in Fisheries organizing and implementing development projects by the use of The Institute's Tromsø Department was established in 2003. The research skilled personnel from the Institute of Marine Research and the activities cover bottom habitas, shellfish, sea mammals and fish, both as regards Directorate of Fisheries. research and management advice. The department provides important links to other research institutions in Tromsø. Further on, at Nykirkekaien, we find the Department of Administration and Services and the Research Vessels Department in premises rented from the Bergen Harbour Authority. This is also where the Institute’s research vessels tie up on their occasional visits to Bergen, and where their research trawls and other equipment are stored. The Research Vessels Department has the responsibility for the operations and maintenance of our research vessels, and also the procurement and service of scientific equipment. The Institute of Marine Research owns the vessels "G.O. Sars", "", "Håkon Mosby" and "G.M. Dannevig". Both ”Dr. ” (owned by NORAD) and ”Hans Brattström” (owned by UoB) are manned and operated by IMR. In addition “” and “Fangst” are chartered by the Institute for special research surveys in parts of the year.

4 5 Where do we carry out our research cruises? G.O. SARS • built: 2003 • 77,5 m • 4067 brt Vessels and activities A comprehensive programme for the research cruises is prepared annually, based on ongoing and planned research. This is challenging puzzle in which research requirements, efficient vessel operation and concerns of the ships' personnel must all be taken into account. The Institute programme forms part of a national research cruise programme prepared since 2006. The Research Vessels Department is responsible for the implementation of the Protection Zone JOHAN HJORT • built: 1990 • 64,4 m • 910 brt overall programme, while any particular cruise has a scientist in charge, working around International Zone ("Loophole") in close collaboration with the captain of the vessel. The larger research vessels are operated 24 hours per day in a revolving watch Russian system throughout the cruise that typically lasts for 3 to 4 weeks. This system Economic Zone gives a very high utilization of the investment in ships and equipment. "Grey Zone" The need for vessels for monitoring and research is greater than what can be (Disputed area between Russia and ) covered by the Institute's own vessels. It is therefore necessary to charter Economic Zone HÅKON MOSBY • built: 1980 • 47,5 m • 493 brt suitable fishing vessels for certain tasks. The table below shows the number of cruise days in 2008 sailed by our own vessels and chartered boats.

Fishery Zone Norwegian around Jan Mayen Economic Zone

International Zone ("Banana Loophole") G.M. DANNEVIG • built: 1979 • 27,8 m • 171 brt Vessel Cruise days Icelandic G.O. Sars 278 Economic Zone "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" carries out research in coopertion Johan Hjort 253 with developing countries Håkon Mosby 255 and is therefore operating G.M. Dannevig 180 outside home waters. Faeroes Fangst 200 Economic Zone Dr. Fridtjof Nansen 319 Hans Brattström 216 DR. FRIDTJOF NANSEN • built: 1993 • 56,7 m • 1444 brt EU Waters Jan Mayen 75 Chartered vessels 947 Sum 2 723

6 6 7

Fangst • built: 2000 • 15,0 m • 25 brt Photo: Pål Buhl-Mortensen 8 each species found in our waters. our in found species each of fish of number total the of calculations our for input essential provide data these fleet, fishing commercial the from data catch reliable with conjunction In fish. of numbers into transformed mathematically is density echo total The data. acoustic the interpret to use we that information basic the provide hauls trawl the from data Fish eaten. have they what out find to order in analysed are contents stomach the and age, their determine us let ear) the in stones (tiny otoliths The measured. is length the and weighed species, into sorted are trawls the by taken fish The instruments. these by registered fish the of samples collect to intervals regular at hauled and set are trawls and data", "echo sonars,make continuous recordings of and echo-sounders instruments, Acoustic measures. management other and quotas fishing on authorities the to advice scientists' the by off finish that analyses of process hensive compre­ a for basis the form data fish The areas. ocean our of status and changes the on knowledge with us provide data The land. on out carried are analyses further while board, on processed and evaluated extent large a to are observations and data The kinds. various of samples collecting by and measurements direct by data fisheries and environmental of quantities large gather vessels research our year, Every information gather we How Exploration of the Sea (ICES). (ICES). Sea the of Exploration the for Council International the via coordinated be now as will programmes research Larger coverage. complete areas ocean vast the give to order in vessels research the of use the coordinate to example for important, is north, the in particularly countries, neighbouring our co­ why is This field. the in and laboratories the in both cooperation, research international require will management oceanareas. Working towards ecosystem wide-ranging our in vessels research the of use continued by least not ecosystems, marine the about knowledge the expand to contribute will Research Marine of Institute The research. marine of aims term long important most the of one management, ecosystem call can we what is itself environment marine the of and life-forms all of ment manage- integrated of sort This future. the to looks that strategy management a in factor important an also is ronment envi- ocean the affecting changes Climatic management". "multi-species as known scheme, management a in considered be must interconnections Such present. are they when larvae herring eat capelin and capelin, on prey example, for Cod, other. each influence species each of stocks the how of terms in example for context, overall an in stocks at look must we that means management resources Good ecosystem the Managing operation with research institutions in institutions research with operation

The collection of fisheries data fisheries of collection The Acoustic recordings (echo-sounder) recordings Acoustic Analysis of the trawl catch trawl the of Analysis weight length catches trawl with compared are data Acoustic stomach content stomach 9 age

The men who gave their names to our ships 10 starfish from the bottom of the of bottom the from starfish free-swimming and primitive a caught Asbjørnsen 1853 In belief. this exploded Sars Asbjørnsen, Christen Peter zoologist and story-teller the and Ossian, Georg son his with Together depths. great at exist not did life animal that believed widely was it time, the At ocean. the in distribution vertical and horizontal their and development reproduction, their animals; marine on was work his of Most professor. and priest as both periods his covers production scientific His Christiania. of University the at Zoology of Professor became Sars priest, a as years 24 After adulthood. to survived whom of eight children, 14 him bore Welhaven, J.S. poet the of sister Maren, wife His life. his of much for him plagued difficulties Financial 1839. in Bergen, of north just parish, Manger to moving Kinn, of parish poverty-stricken the to called was he 1830, In history. natural in interest his up giving without although after only three terms, changing to theology,course the abandoned but Oslo), (now Christiania of University the at history palaeontology.Hestarted tostudy natural especially history, natural in interest burning a displayed Michael boy, young a as Even boundary. Russian-Estonian the on town a Narva, from Norway to come had Heilman, H. Diwert mother, His name. same the of captain ship’s born German- a of son the was Sars Michael zoologist, a and priest a both as Trained Sars Michael

(1805–1869) (1805–1869) – one of the founding fathers of modern zoology modern of fathers founding the of one –

scientific stature. scientific same the enjoys Ossian Georg son his only century; 19th the in reputation Norwegianzoologist with aninternational only the probably was Sars Michael pulpit". a mounted never had he though as curses and maniac a like tobacco smokes also He man. excellent and comrade "good a as Sars Michael of description personal amusing an offered Asbjørnsen Christen Peter Norway. in learning new the for missionary serious most the become would who son his was it but theory, evolutionary supported work own His Darwin. defended he life his of end the towards but evolution, of theory the of favour in evidence the accept to unwilling was Sars Michael first, At Species". of Origin the "On work epochal his published Darwin that 1859, in time, this at just was It eras. previous of geology the and life animal the about much us told them, like other many and finds, These lofotensis. Rhizocrinus name the given and Sars Michael by described was This Vestfjorden. of bottom the from fossil, living a sea-lily, ancient an up brought he when sensation greatest the for responsible was Ossian Georg 1864, In brooch. Frøya’s goddess the after Brisinga, name the given was This Hardangerfjord.

Norwegian scientist Einar Lea. On the On Lea. Einar scientist Norwegian regarded highly the by 1910 in "Nature" journal well-known the in published was which larvae eel on note a in found is interest of detail little-known A associates. closest his of one became and Hjort by headhunted was who Dane a Koefoed, Einar by written them of last the 1962, until appear to continued which articles of series a by followed was This Ocean". the of Depths "The classic the published Hjort Johan expedition, the financed who Murray, John Sir with collaboration In anenormous amount ofresearch material. collecting months four spent and Atlantic the criss-crossed Sars" "Michael 1910, In community. scientific international the into research marine Norwegian led Sars" "Michael combination. in sometimes objectives, practical more and scientific moreremote waters, pursuing both purely in and Norway of coast the off cruises of series long a made Sars" "Michael years, 14 For gear. fishing of type every and equipment sampling scientific latest the with equipped and trawler, steam English an as built was Sars" "Michael demandedanocean-going research vessel. but challenge, the accepted Hjort Johan should find out why catches varied so much. scientists marine that demanded authorities the and Norway, northern in especially distress, real caused century 19th the of end the at fisheries cod miserable The "" "Michael (1)

– the research vessel of the "golden age" "golden the of vessel research the –

Readabout "Michael Sars" (2)onpage 31. over. was Age" "Golden The arena. research marine Norwegian the left research, marine of and fisheries of both director was then by who Hjort, Johan and Sars" "Michael both however, War, World First the of course the In research. marine modern in direction of change historical a marked realisation This next. the to year one from widely varies year-classes of size the variations: enormous such showed catches fishing why question their to answer the given were community research international the and authorities Norwegian the 1914, In place. takes spawning that later years several demonstrated Schmidt scientist Danish the that Sea Sargasso the in was it fact in and Indies, West the and Azores the between somewhere be must eel the of area spawning the that conclusion the to came he distribution, and size their of basis

engine: Main Tonnage: Draught: Beam: Length: Built: Shipyard:

300 Hp (Also sail-rigged) (Also Hp 300 engine, steam Coal-fired grt 226 ft 12 ft 23 ft 125 1900 MekaniskeFredrikstad AS Verksted 11 Georg Ossian Sars (1837–1927) – our first marine scientist

Georg Ossian Sars was the son of Michael and 1869. As he was rowed around the The Lofoten studies convinced Sars that an Sars, and was named after the (mythical) fjord he could observe with his own eyes understanding of the animal life and the Celtic poet Ossian. While he was still a the millimetre-sized eggs and recently fisheries off the coast of Norway could student he was also collaborating with his hatched cod larvae floating in the surface. not be isolated from each other. It was father and accompanying him on research The finding that cod eggs float in the sea essential to study the "whole of the trips. After his father's death in 1869, he or in the surface was new to science, Northern Seas". Together with the geo- completed the studies they had been doing which until then had firmly believed that all physicist Henrik Mohn, Sars managed to together, producing a series of basic works fish laid their eggs on the seabed, as salmon finance three expeditions to the on various groups of marine invertebrates: do. However, Sars’ discovery was not Norwegian Sea with SS "Vøringen" in Length: 40 ft starfish, molluscs, etc. He followed up his news to the Lofoten fishermen! Sars’ 1876–1878. Norway had joined the com- Built: 1914, in Germany father’s methods in that he studied living methods of direct observation depended petition to explore the ocean depths. In 1929 new 24 Hp Rap-motor material. on the following conditions: 1) a small boat; 2) good eyesight (Sars was 27 when G.O. Sars’ principal work, "An Account of "Ossian Sars" he discovered the pelagic eggs) and 3) the Crustacea of Norway", described most good weather! As far as the weather was The cod hatchery station at Flødevigen permission of the professor, the boat was of the Norwegian crustaceans, and is still concerned he was rather restricted, not near Arendal had a small boat named called "Ossian Sars". It was suitable for an international standard work. Its nine like today with our modern ocean-going "Flødevig". For long-distance transport of transporting spawning fish and fry; and it volumes and 4000 pages were published research ships, and his reports to the large quantities of fish and fry, motorised also made it possible to carry out field between 1895 and 1928. The drawings in Ministry of the Interior usually begin: fishing boats were chartered. The need for studies throughout the year, both in the these volumes bear witness to his artistic "On a fine, calm day…". a larger, more suitable boat became more fjords and off the coast. abilities; he engraved his crustaceans directly and more obvious as tasks of this sort However, old age gradually began to leave on copper plates. In 1864, G.O. Sars and Georg Ossian Sars’ studies of the life- increased in number. the herring scientist Axel Boeck (1833–1873) history of the spawning cod were models its traces on the boat, and in 1946 it was became Norway’s first full-time marine of their kind, even though he did not get In 1923 the station was able to take over condemned. scientists. Sars gradually took over respon- to the bottom of all the mysteries a German motor cutter that had been sibility for the practical scientific studies of involved. His research vessel was simply impounded by the Customs Service Norway’s ocean fisheries, which he led too small. His research methods showed (this was during Prohibition in Norway). until 1893, when Johan Hjort took over. the unmistakeable influence of his father, This vessel was 40 ft in length and had He also became a fellow of the University with their use of living material and their been built in 1914. The question arose of in 1870 and professor in 1874. thorough planning. But his reports also what to call the new acquisition, and an reveal a brilliant independent scientist with obvious choice was the name of the man Sars’ made his most important findings in a highly developed ability to concentrate who had laid the foundations for the work in the Lofoten area during and a great deal of imagination. of Flødevigen – G.O. Sars. With the the annual , between 1864

12 13 Finn Devold (1902–1977) "G.O. Sars" (1) – the herring shepherd - Devold’s "herring shepherd"

Finn Devold was the son of Harald Ophus The fact that Devold’s name is so closely great style! A couple of the most curious the vessel was also the Institute’s workhorse rough seas thanks to the draught and the Devold and Alida Elise Marie Lampe. He coupled with the vessel "G.O. Sars" (1) is purse-seine boats came out to meet “G.O. in several other fields. During the post-war low superstructure. was born in Bergen but grew up in Tromsø. due to the great efforts he made in support Sars” and realised that the herring were years, the aim of Norwegian fisheries policy "G.O. Sars" was decommissioned in 1970 He studied in Paris, and had many different of the coastal communities during the rich under observation. A large fleet of fishing was to build up a diversified fishing fleet, and given the name "Harengus" to make the jobs before joining IMR in 1935. herring years of the 50s. These efforts were boats had soon gathered, and Devold had including ocean-going vessels. This required original name available for a new "G.O. Sars". made with the aid of a device which had been to ask them to stay out of the way in order a particularly high level of research activity Devold was an assistant at the Department It was then sold and ended its days some developed by the British during the Second not to hinder his work. The "parade" of in the Barents Sea, a region that makes very of Geophysics in Tromsø and to Fridtjof years later being wrecked at Tusenøyene World War to locate German submarines. boats must have looked rather strange. high demands of both crews and ships, south of Edge Island, Svalbard. Nansen in 1922–1923. He soon acquired a This was called ASDIC (Anti-Submarine When one of the skippers asked what was especially in the winter months. The need taste for the exciting life of the Arctic, and ran Detection Investigation Committee). As going on, the skipper of the purse-seiner to expand research activities and the success Read about "G.O. Sars" (2) on page 30, a meteorological station on Svalbard and on with the echo-sounder, it was Norwegians "Reform" from Sunnmøre answered, of "G.O. Sars" resulted in a third "Johan and "G.O. Sars" (3) on page 37. Jan Mayen. At the request of the Norwegian who modified this horizontal-searching "Well, we’re all marching in a 17th of May Hjort" to be built in 1958. Government he led the occupation of an device to enable it to locate shoals of fish. (Constitution Day) procession, and the area in Southeast Greenland in 1931, while It was Einar Lea, one of Hjort’s closest "Sars"t is setting the tune!" What was later to become "G.O. Sars" his brother Hallvard occupied what was associates, who took up the idea in 1947, was originally a whaling-boat that during When the herring arrived off the coast at Shipyard: AS Pusnes Mekaniske Verksted, Arendal known as Eirik Raudes Land in Northeast and 1949 saw the delivery of the first herring the Second World War was being built in Runde on 21 January 1951, "G.O. Sars" had AS Moss Værft & Dokk Greenland. Norway, however, lost its claim asdic. The instrument was later re-named Arendal for a German ship company. The Built: 1945/1950 demonstrated its good qualities and sea- to Greenland land in a case at the SONAR (SOund NAvigation and Ranging), construction was sabotaged and delayed, but Length: 52.0 m worthiness, the sonar its fantastic ability to International Court in The Hague. which sounded rather more peaceful. the hull was completed by the end of the war Beam: 8.7 m find herring, and Devold and the Institute of in 1945. The hull was then confiscated by Draught: 5.2 m Finn Devold became a fisheries biologist, The 1950 herring year-class was extremely Marine Research had won the trust of the Norwegian authorities, and thanks to a special Tonnage: 595 grt and was awarded his masters degree for a large. "G.O. Sars" set sail in July and made people of the coast. This was a fine start for grant provided by the Parliament, the vessel Main engine: 2 x Crossley HRL6, each of 600 Hp piece of work on the biology of the plaice. an important discovery with its new sonar the Institute’s first sea-going research vessel was reconstructed and completed as a He is best known for his study of the migration set: large quantities of that year’s herring fry since "Michael Sars". research vessel at Moss Verft & Dokk. The pattern of the Atlanto-Scandinavian herring. were observed as far as 200 nautical miles In the early 1960s, the echo integrator was vessel was commissioned in 1950 and initiated He also suggested an explanation for the from the coast. At that time, most people developed at the Institute of Marine Research. a new, active phase of the IMR. long-term fluctuations in the occurrence believed that all herring fry stayed close to This instrument made it possible to "collect" and size of the herring stock off the coast the coast. Drift nets do not catch these tiny Designed as a whaling-boat, the hull of echoes from a large number of fish and use of Norway and in Bohuslän on the Swedish fish, but the sonar could see them! "G.O. Sars" had a relatively narrow beam these to estimate their biomass. The prototype west coast, an explanation which created a and was deep in draught. The superstructure, Before the end of the year, "G.O. Sars" had was tested on board "G.O. Sars", and later wide scientific debate. the deck arrangement and the interior were set out on yet another pioneering cruise became the most important instrument for influenced by British trawler design. The wrote in a memorial article with Devold and the sonar on board. This the Institute of Marine Research’s fish stock engine power was quite low, but in the about Finn Devold: "Finn Devold was one of was the first attempt to follow herring shoals assessments. post-war years one had to use what was the finest and most fearless men I have ever in the Norwegian Sea on their migration to Although "G.O. Sars" is closely linked to available. "G.O. Sars" was, however, a very known. Now he is gone from us – a giant the spawning grounds off the coast of herring studies in the popular consciousness, effective research vessel, behaving well in tree has fallen in the forest". Western Norway, and they succeeded in 14 15 Gunder Mathiesen Dannevig (1841–1911) – sea captain and pioneer in the aquaculture of marine fish

Gunder M. Dannevig was the son of skipper selected locations. Dannevig attempted to released or not. The fact that differences "G.M. Dannevig" (1) Mathias Wilhelm Dannevig and Kirsten demonstrate the results of the releases by in fish catches were largely due to variations - transport vessel for fish fry Gundersdatter Guldsmedengen. He went local questionnaire studies. in year-class strength was later demon- to sea at an early age and became a skipper strated in herring, which also had a "G.M. Dannevig" (1) was brought into The fishermen who had a positive attitude when he was only 24 years old, when successful year-class in 1904. service in 1950 and was intended for use to these measures, also tended to respond Arendal was the richest and most important as a transport vessel for fish fry (releases positively to questions about trends in cod The verdict of history on the economic shipping centre in Norway. In 1878 he of cod larvae) and research cruises off stocks. When the launch of the venture importance of Dannevig’s releases of cod became a fisherman. There was a critical the Norwegian coast and in the Skagerrak. obtained financial support, the practical fry has been negative. On the other hand, shortage of fish on the coast of Southern scientific studies also began. Dannevig then the scientific activity which his initiative The building of "G.M. Dannevig" signalled Norway at the time, and fishermen wanted proposed to investigate the effects of the triggered in the infant Norwegian marine the start of a new epoch in the history of to have certain types of fishing gear banned. releases by means of beach hauls of nets in research sector has given him a major the Flødevigen Research Station, in that Dannevig, who had a good understanding selected fjords where fish had been place in the history of marine research the new vessel greatly extended the Shipyard: Lunde Båtbyggeri, of how the fisheries were developing in released, and in others without releases. in Norway. The biologist O. Nordgaard range of tasks that could be carried out Tysnes in Sunnhordland other countries, had heard that the Built: 1949 This was in 1904–06. Johan Hjort was not described Dannevig in the following at sea. The ship gradually became too Americans had begun to experiment with Length: 19.8 m convinced of the usefulness of this sort of words: "Dannevig was characterised by his small to perform the functions it was hatching marine species of fish. The idea of Beam: 5.5 m activity, and he insisted that his assistant unusually practical bent, his almost violent intended for, and was sold in 1987. Draught: 2.7 m improving cod stocks by releasing newly Knut Dahl should be on the spot to check energy, and his sharp understanding. Tonnage: 55 grt hatched larvae into the sea won the support the catches. The spirit of cooperation Whether he was speaking Norwegian, Read about "G.M. Dannevig" (2) on page 32. Main engine: Alpha, 200 Hp of everyone in the fishing industry, and between the old seacaptain and the young English or French, he resembled a post Accommodation: 3 double cabins community spirit in Arendal provided the academic must have been poor. The front that was difficult to shift. He could be necessary financial support for a cod page of the first mimeographed report unpleasant to have as an opponent". hatchery. Dannevig received scientific from the beach-net studies is "decorated" backing from G.O. Sars who, in his first with the following remark: "Damned lies. report from Lofoten in 1864, had already Knut Dahl". But it was precisely this report proposed artificial hatching in order to even that provided the first signals about a new out annual variations in the cod fisheries. explanation of the wide annual fluctuations Dannevig’s hatchery in Flødevigen was the in fish catches, the central finding of the first largescale hatchery for marine fish in golden age. The report showed quite the world. Hundreds of millions of cod clearly that the number of fry was much eggs were hatched every year, and the greater in 1904 than in 1905 and 1906, no yolk-sac larvae were released into specially matter whether yolk-sac larvae had been

16 17 Johan Hjort (1869–1948) – still a current name in Norwegian marine research

Johan Hjort’s father was a professor and Ascidians to studies of population dynamics one "stock earthquake" after another was eye specialist, who came from a prominent in whales. His more polemical writings in discovered in the Barents Sea. Hjort’s Danish family of civil servants. His mother connection with Captain Dannevig’s descriptions of similar situations in 1903 was from the Falsen family. Johan Hjort cod-hatching experiments in Flødevigen showed that nature itself occasionally inherited his interest in science from his are also well known. "goes mad", without human beings father; his rather volcanic temper came necessarily being the worst culprits. Johan Hjort as a person was shrewdly from his mother. He studied biology in described by Francis Bull in the following Munich and was G.O. Sars’ successor as terms: "As a superior, he was without "Johan Hjort" (1) leader of the fisheries studies in peer; helpful, kind, patient – as an equal, Christiania in 1893, at the age of 24. – fragile, but still useful rather difficult, because he always believed After the First World War there was little In 1900, these studies were moved to that he was right – and as a subordinate, large-scale studies in the Norwegian Sea. money available for research cruises, and Bergen, and after a few years, Hjort became sure of himself and full of the need to However, it was felt that such operations both director of marine research and oppose". His ability as a leader to "fire up" "Michael Sars" was laid up, while the most were beginning to verge on the irresponsible. important field-work was carried out with Shipyard: Gravdal Skipsbyggeri, Opsanger, director of fisheries. He had a will of iron, his colleagues is illustrated by what was The Institute’s scientists Sund, Lea and Sunde in Sunnhordland the aid of chartered boats. In 1922 the an enormous capacity for work, and a well once said by two of his favourites, Hjalmar Bjerkan led most of the fieldwork during Built: 1922 (rebuilt: 1928) Institute acquired a small wooden vessel Length: 68 ft developed interest in scientific collaboration. Broch and Einar Koefoed: "Not the least that period. During a shipyard refit in which was specially designed for research Beam: 16 ft He was also one of the founders of the of the factors that stimulated our work in 1931, rot was discovered in the hull of the purposes. This was the first "Johan Hjort", Draught: 10 ft International Council for the Exploration the old laboratories was Hjort’s great gift boat. The attack was so serious that it was Tonnage: 49 grt and it is said that Dr. Hjort was not of the Sea (ICES), and was its president of making each of us feel that we were regarded essential to invest in a completely Main engine: Bolinder B20M21, 70 Hp particularly satisfied by the honour of Accommodation: 9 bunks; certificated for 11 persons during the last few years of his life. working freely and independently on our new boat, but everything that could be used having such a "pathetic" vessel named after allotted tasks. At the same time, he always of the existing equipment and fitments was Hjort resigned during the First World him. Nevertheless, the new boat performed kept us in contact with practical life, which transferred to a new "Johan Hjort" (2). War in protest against the behaviour of well in Lofoten (cod), off the coast (winter was an unusual attitude for those times". Meanwhile, the shipyard took over and the authorities in connection with the sale and spring-spawning herring) and in the of fish to Britain, believing that Norway was Johan Hjort’s achievement has acquired rebuilt the old boat, which sailed in cargo fjords (sprat and yearling herring). not observing the conditions of neutrality. renewed relevance during the past few traffic under the names of "Kola" and Plankton and hydrographic studies also After the War, Hjort studied biology in years. His underlying ecological attitude is "Ruth Vagle", until it ended its days on the provided valuable new knowledge. Cambridge, and he also spent some time in line with the ecological management beach rocks in Morfjorden, Nordland. in before becoming a professor model for marine resources which we can Since it turned out to be impossible to get at the . His scientific glimpse in the distance. Hjort’s observations "Michael Sars" into operation again (except production covered a wide range of came to the aid of the Institute of Marine for a whaling trip to the Davis Strait in subjects, from larval development in Research in the 1980s in particular, when 1924), "Johan Hjort" was refitted for

18 19 Oscar Sophus Sund (1884–1943) – marine scientist from the North "Johan Hjort" (2) "Oscar Sund" – small but revolutionary Oscar Sund was born on the Sund property Perhaps Oscar Sund’s gifts of popularisation in Gildeskål in the County of Nordland. were most evident in "Skårungen" ("The The second "Johan Hjort" was also a When the third "Johan Hjort" was His father, Haagen Olsen, was a country Youngster"); his last and best known work, small wooden vessel with a length of 79 commissioned in 1958, the existing policeman married to Annette Katharina published in 1942. The sub-title of the book feet, designed for use in coastal water. "Johan Hjort" was renamed "Oscar Neumann. He grew up among the northern offers a fine characterisation of Sund: "A Financial conditions were difficult at this Sund"; a well deserved honour. The fisherfolk, virtually at the gateway to the book about the sea and its fauna, ships and time, and the fishing industry was struggling vessel was, however, sold the same year. sea. His great ambition was to study fish travel, for the young people of the coast." with overproduction and market problems. and their migrations, in order to help the Hjort’s expansive ocean fishery model In 1947, the people of Northern Norway fishermen. While he was still a student, he was de-emphasised, and the scientists’ erected a monument to Oscar Sund at the published a number of studies on central wishes for new boats were modest. new church in Gildeskål, bearing the following topics in zoology, demonstrating that he inscription: "He was a tireless servant of "Johan Hjort" (2) had the honour of testing was an excellent basic scientist. science, and a friend and helper of the out the echo-sounder to locate fish. This In 1908, he was engaged as an assistant to fishing community. A faithful, warm-hearted extremely important tool for practical Hjort, and he carried out most of the age northerner who brought honour to his fishing had originally been developed by determinations of cod that formed much community". the British Admiralty in the 1930s as a depth sounder. In 1934, Oscar Sund of the data in Johan Hjort's important Shipyard: Gravdal Skipsbyggeri, Opsanger, publication of 1914. Like most of Hjort’s heard that the sprat seine netter "Signal" Sunde in Sunnhordland close associates, Sund was keen to keep had recorded echograms of fish shoals. Built: 1932 Sund managed to obtain money for an Length: 79 ft the fishermen always up to date about his Tonnage: 67 grt echo-sounder, and on 11 March 1935, research results, and he had a gift for doing Main engine: Wichmann 90–120 Hp so. His schematic method of showing the "Johan Hjort" arrived at Hølla in Lofoten. variations in catches of spawning cod is Now, for the first time, it was possible to particularly well known. Gunnar Rollefsen "see" the concentrations of spawning cod has characterised Oscar Sund’s presen­ in a thin horizontal layer in thermocline tations as "masterly analyses and diagrams water at 4–6 °C. The results of the of the changes in cod stocks". Oscar Sund investigations were published in the also played an important role in processing prestgious journal "Nature" on 8 June the material from the major "Michael Sars" that very same year. A new era in world expedition in 1910. In 1916, he took over fishing had arrived. as leader of the fisheries studies when Johan Hjort resigned.

20 21 "Johan Hjort" (3) Peder A. Rønnestad (1879–1949) – modelled on the "G.O. Sars" Peder A. Rønnestad joined ”Michael Sars” Rønnestad has been praised for his wide-range in 1902 as a fisherman under Captain Thor of contri­butions to fisheries research, and in The success of "G.O. Sars" (1), particularly samples and tagging of seals were carried Iversen. Following several years of education particular for his work on the Load-line Act and as regards the herring investigations, out by scientists and technicians accom- and commercial fishing, he returned to the registration of Norwegian fishing vessels, as opened people’s eyes to the possibility modated on board commercial seal-hunting ship as its captain in 1912. In 1916, he became well as his efforts to improve sanitary conditions of carrying out important new tasks in vessels. The Institute was otherwise an expert consultant in fisheries to the in the fishing villages and in building fishermen's fisheries research. The northern waters involved in organizing government assistance Directorate of Fisheries. lodging for use in the seasonal fisheries. and cod were now down for work. service for the seal hunting fleet which When the new "Johan Hjort" (the third was in operation from 1953 to 1979. vessel of that name) arrived in 1958, it "Salvator" from Norsk Bjergnings­kompani was designed with "G.O. Sars" (1) as its was often used, and at times the helicoper model and ideal, as an ocean-going vessel. on this vessel was utilized for surveys of "Peder Rønnestad" Even then, some people believed that a the seal breeding areas and also to carry – trawler and fishing trials vessel stern-trawler design would have been out counts of the seal populations. The boat was built in Germany as the trawler more useful, but the side-trawler tradition "Spitzbergen" and was purchased by the was still powerful. The government's economic idea at the Shipyard: Mjellem & Karlsen AS, Bergen Built: 1958 (rebuilt 1975) Directorate of Fisheries in 1951. During Built: 1948 time was "rent rather than buy". This its first few years with the Directorate, it With two ocean-going vessels available, Length: 52.3 m Length: 26.3 m resulted in a multi-year contract with the was primarily used as a fishing trials vessel the geographic range of the Institute’s Beam: 9.3 m Beam: 6.4 m fishing boat company of Tor Østervold Draught: 5.3 m together with "Thor Iversen" (see p 25) by Draught: 3.2 m investigations could be increased, and to charter the fishing vessel "Eldjarn". Tonnage: 697 grt the Directorate’s practical fishery consultants. Tonnage: 126 grt new fish stocks were added to the study Main engine: MAN G7V 40/60 MA, 1300 Hp Main engine: Bergen Diesel 250 Hp The vessel was fitted up with the When "Oscar Sund" (ex. "Johan Hjort" (2)) programme. Fish-finding and hydrographic Class: DNV +1A1 ice Accommodation: 8 single and 2 double cabins necessary equipment for research and was taken out of service in 1958, "Peder instruments were renewed in step with Accommodation: 25 cabins (crew 32; scientists 7) Class: Deutsche Lloyd 100A4 fishing vessel/North Sea was used by the Institute from 1980 to Rønnestad" was rebuilt and handed over to developments in technology. In 1975, the 1990 in cooperation with the owner. the Institute of Marine Research. The vessel vessel was fitted with stern-trawling gear, lost its "good looks" as a result of the "Johan Hjort" was sold in 1983 and which was not particularly practical for rebuilding operation, while it acquired a that type of vessel, and the scientists moved to the North Sea offshore sector laboratory and cabin facilities needed for began to dream of a new boat. under the name of "Skandi Ocean". research cruises. It was employed on the The vessel was bought in 1996 by the coast and in the fjords, and occasionally over The hull of "Johan Hjort" was reinforced environmental protection organization large areas of the North Sea and on the banks for operations in waters with drift ice, "Sea Shepherds" and has been observed west of the Shetlands. The boat was equipped but could not work in permanent ice and in Australia under various names, lately with side trawls, drift-netting and long-lining therefore be used for the Institute's studies "Farley Mowat". gear and a hydrography/plankton winch. of the seal populations in the eastern "Peder Rønnestad" was sold in 1979 and Barents Sea and in the Jan Mayen area. Read about the current "Johan Hjort" on acquired the name "Rønner". For this reason, collection of biological page 34.

22 23 Thor Iversen (1873–1953) "Thor Iversen" – practical fishing trials and research Thor Carl Iversen was a well-known personality in the world of Norwegian This vessel was originally built in the fisheries and marine research. Already in Netherlands as the trawler "Gerdy Mia", possession of experience from merchant but was purchased as a relatively new vessel shipping, fishing, sealing and whaling, he by the Directorate of Fisheries for test fishing, joined "Michael Sars" as a seaman in 1900. and especially for training Norwegian He was later captain of the vessel, and fishermen in trawling techniques. The boat skippered it on its famous Atlantic was named after Thor Iversen, and was used research cruise in 1910. first and foremost by the Directorate's consultants for practical fishing trials. In 1912, Thor Iversen became a consultant "Thor Iversen" was also used by the to the Directorate of Fisheries, and in Institute of Marine Research. addition to a number of administrative tasks, he carried out several research The vessel was sold in 1968, and as fishing cruises, particularly in northern waters. vessel, "Thor Iver" sank west of His list of publications bears witness to a Kvannhovden lighthouse in 1976. Built: 1951 wide range of interests, which included the Length: 83 ft history of fishing, geographical measurements Beam: 20 ft and descriptions, charting fishing banks, etc. Draught: 9 ft His artistic bent found expression in film Tonnage: 84 grt and photography, a hobby that he cultivated Main engine: 200 Hp diesel engine Crew: 8 with such keenness and talent that he must be given a place among the "greats" of Norwegian photography. s collection ' From Per Alsaker

24 25 Fridtjof Nansen (1861–1930)

Fridtjof Nansen was a man of many talents. as the "Ekman Spiral". Nansen constructed the transport home of about 400,000 He began to study zoology at the an instrument for collection of water German and Russian prisoners of war. University of Christiania (Oslo) in 1880, samples and measuring of water temper- He was also the underlying force and the and after only two years of study was ature. This became a standard oceano- organiser of efforts to feed millions of appointed curator at Bergen Museum. In graphic instrument, named and known people threatened by famine in Russia. the same year, he sailed with the sealing internationally as a "Nansen bottle", and boat "Viking" of Arendal to the Western in use up to recent times. Ice off Greenland, where he studied seals Fridtjof Nansen made major, pioneering "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" (1) and made hydrographic observations of discoveries in several aspects of the – the international helper the waters of Eastern Greenland. Here, development of modern marine research, in the drift ice, Nansen found driftwood The first marine research vessel with fisheries of other areas were needed. particularly in physical oceanography. He and mud which probably came from the name "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" was a Training and education were provided on was also a keen exponent of international Siberia. As a result of these observations Norwegian contribution to international board, at institutions in cooperating cooperation in marine research, and he led the 1893–1896 "Fram" expedition, development efforts, the appropriate countries and in Norway. played a key role in the establishment of on which he collected oceanographic choice of a nation that can point to a rich Shipyard: Mjellem & Karlsen AS, Bergen the International Council for the The vessel was financed by NORAD Built: 1974 data as the vessel drifted across the Polar tradition of research in fisheries and marine Exploration of the Sea (ICES). (Norwegian Agency for Development Length: 47.5 m Sea. Among other things, Nansen noted science. The vessel was operated in Cooperation) which also covered the Beam: 10.3 m that the polar ice drifted at an angle of Nansen’s doctorate (1888) was a study of cooperation with developing countries in Draught: 4.3 m running costs, while the Institute of about 45 degrees to the right of the the central nervous system of the hagfish mapping fisheries resources, strengthen Tonnage: 495 grt Marine Research was responsible for the Main engine: Normo LDMCB9, 1500 HP direction of the wind – and he was the (an invertebrate), with a thesis whose marine research capabilities and improve technical and scientific operation. Accommodation: 14 single, 2 double and 2 four-berth cabins first to realise that this must be due to quality and range was probably not fully fisheries management. . The programmes the rotation of the Earth. Nansen appreciated by his contemporaries. Today, were drawn up in close collaboration In 1993, following 19 years of service in believed that the ice dragged the water however, Fridtjof Nansen is internationally with the countries, and with scientific many oceans, "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" was beneath along with it. In the same way, recognised as one of the pioneers of support provided by the UN’s Food and sold to a French diving company to be used each layer of water would drag the next brain research. In 1897, Nansen became Agriculture Organisation (FAO). in hunts for sunken treasury ships in the layer along. Friction would mean that the Professor of Zoology at the University of Mozambique Canal. Later, the vessel The vessel was operated continuously current velocity would fall off with depth Christiania, and planned the physical- came to Marseille where it was used for from 1975 to 1993, from Indonesia in the at the same time as the direction of the oceanographic studies for the Board of accommodation, before it returned to east, via countries bordering the Indian current gradually turned more to the right. Fisheries carried out by the "Michael Norway in the mid 1990s. Here, it was Ocean to the west coast of Africa and Nansen did not have the mathematical Sars", which was named after his father- employed to assist in offshore seismic further to the Caribbean and the coast of knowhow that would have enabled him in-law. In 1922, Fridtjof Nansen was surveys. to demonstrate that this was the case, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his the Pacific Ocean in Central America. but at his request, Professor V.W. Ekman important humanitarian efforts in the The investigations revealed that the fish Read about the current "Dr. Fridtjof succeeded in proving Nansen's theories. wake of the First World War. It was resources in some areas could sustain Nansen" on page 35. The phenomenon has since been known Nansen who negotiated and organised expanding fisheries while restrictions in

26 27 "Fjordfangst" "Virgo" and "Krill" – modest servants of marine research This vessel originally belonged to the Fish Capture Division of the Institute of Between the wars, the Institute of Marine Fisheries Technology Research (FTFI), and Research had a 40 ft motor boat, "Virgo", it was built in order to carry out tests and but this was confiscated during the Second trials of fishing gear. The vessel came to World War. After the War, a new boat the Institute of Marine Research when the was purchased and given the name of Fish Capture Division was incorporated "Krill". It had a cabin forward, with room into the Institute in 1991. "Fjordfangst" for two persons. The boat was equipped was sold to in 1999. with a hand-powered winch for plankton sampling and hydrography, and it was "Virgo" employed in studies in these fields in Length: 40 ft Hardanger and Sunnhordland, but it was No further technical details available. Shipyard: Sandøy Plast AS (hull) and Storebø Slipp & also used more and more often for studies Mekaniske Verksted AS Built: 1983 of sprat, crabs, lobsters and eels in the Lengthened by: Lunde Båtbyggeri AS same area. Length: 14.2 m Beam: 4.3 m In spring 1985, the boat was transferred Draught: 2.3 m to the Matre Research Station, but was Tonnage: 25 grt condemned after a couple of year. Main engine: Yanmar 82, 188 Bhk Accommodation: 2 two-berth cabins

"Krill" Built in Nordtveitgrend during the late 1940s Length: 25.5 ft Beam: 6.6 ft Motor: Sleipner petrol engine, 10–14 Hp Marna diesel, 18 Hp (about 1965) Sabb 22 HP (1979)

28 29 From the Image archive of the Norwegian Export Council for Fish "G.O. Sars" (2) – into the computer era "Michael Sars" (2) - fish finding and research The 1960s saw a series of rapid develop­ The vessel itself and the instrumentation were ments in fisheries technology and instrumen- continuously renewed, but in February 2003, The vessel was designed according to the tation. The second "G.O. Sars" was built as a after 33 years of service, the "G.O. Sars" was "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" (1) model, but with a stern-trawler and rigged to be able to alternate taken out of operation. It was then given the slightly modified interior design. It was equipped easily between the use of bottom and pelagic name "Sarsen" to make the "G.O. Sars"-name to perform more or less the same range of trawls. The vessel’s hull was designed to disturb available for a new vessel. "Sarsen" was tasks as "G.O. Sars" (2), though with certain the echo-sounders as little as possible, since owned by the Institute for a short period limitations due to its smaller size. The vessel these had become essential instruments for and was then sold. "G.O. Sars" (2) from was well equipped with acoustic instrumen­ fisheries research. A new generation of echo- 1970, however, is in good shape in Australia tation and trawls. Improvements made in sounder was being developed in collaboration where it is used as a cruise and expedition later years included a dropkeel with echo- with Simrad. Used in combination with the ship to the Pacific islands and to Antarctic. sounder and sonar heads, which enabled it to echo-integrator, the new sounders made it What is interesting is that the ship still carry out acoustic studies of herring and possible to perform quantitative measure- carries the name "Sarsen"! other fish species even in fairly bad weather. ments. While it had previously been possible The vessel was particularly suitable for to register where the fish were and to only Shipyard: Mjellem & Karlsen AS, Bergen Shipyard: Mjellem & Karlsen AS, Bergen coastal water operations. roughly estimate their biomass, scientists Built: 1979 Built: 1970 The vessel was originally used by both the Length: 47.5 m now had more accurate measures of the Length: 70.0 m amount of fish that they were recording. Directorate of Fisheries and the Institute of Beam: 10.3 m Beam: 13.3 m Draught: 4.3 m Tonnage: 1.447 grt Marine Research, but the Institute gradually Electronics was also entering the field of took it over on a full-time basis. Tonnage: 495 grt Main engine: Bergen Diesel 2500 Hp (1838 kW) Main engine: Normo diesel LDMCB-9, 1500 Hp oceanographic instrumentation. Water Class: Det Norske Veritas, Class +1A1 "Michael Sars" was sold in the end of 2003 Accommodation: 20 persons samplers and turning thermometers were Accommodation: Crew + 16 scientists being replaced by sondes which recorded and is now a training vessel for a maritime temperature, salinity, etc. while lowered school in Åland, Finland. through the water column. Signals from these sondes were registered and processed on board while the sondes were still being lowered, a process that required computer power. Echo integration was later also carried out by the computer system. The various types of fishing gear were the best kind, and the operations were facilitated by the stern-trawler rigging and the powerful hydraulic winches with double drums, all controlled from the ship's bridge. This made it easy for the scientists to obtain samples of fish and other organisms as recorded on the echo-sounders. 30 31 "G.M. Dannevig" (2) Håkon Mosby (1903–1989) "Håkon Mosby” – the environmental monitor Mosby was awarded his Master of Science RV "Håkon Mosby" is the sister ship of In 1985, FTFI's vessel "Kystfangst" was degree in 1930 and his doctorate in 1934. "Michael Sars" (2). A drop-keel with acoustic transferred to the Institute of Marine As a student in Oslo he acted as assistant instrumentation was installed in 2002 and Research and stationed in Flødevigen, to Professor Fridtjof Nansen at the the laboratories were restructured. The vessel was until 2008 owned by the UoB. where it was given the new name of Department of Oceanography, participa- "G.M. Dannevig". In order to meet modern ting in several cruises with the research The vessel is equipped to carry out standards, the vessel was lengthened to vessel "Armauer Hansen". In 1927, before oceano­graphic, geological and biological 27.8 mt and refurbished in 1986–87. he took his final degree exams, he was research. It is particularly suitable for engaged as a lecturer at the Department studies of sea bottom structures and Its instrumentation and equipment was of Geophysics, Section for Theoretical sediments, studies which are also of supplemented in the next few years, so Meteorology, at Bergen Museum. In relevance to research on organisms and that after 1988, the Institute had a fully 1927-28 Mosby was a member of L. diversity on the sea bed. operational modern vessel suitable for Christensen’s first "Norvegia" expedition marine research in coastal areas, the to the Antarctic Ocean, on the basis of Skagerrak and the North Sea. Shipyard: Kystvågen Verft, Frei in Møre og Romsdal Shipyard: Mjellem & Karlsen AS, Bergen Built: 1979 which he wrote his doctoral thesis "The Built: 1980 "G.M. Dannevig" has an unconventional Rebuilt: 1987 Waters of the Antarctic Ocean". Length: 47.2 m shape of the bow designed by FTFI's Length: 27.8 m Beam: 10.3 m Beam: 6.7 m Håkon Mosby subsequently led several Tonnage: 701 grt fishing vessel section for trials in projects Main engine: Normo LDMB-9, 1500 Hp Tonnage: 171 grt expeditions to our northern ocean in the late 1970s related to energy savings Main engine: 2 x Volvo 330 Hp Class: Veritas 1A1 Ice in the fishing fleet. Accommodation: 1 single, 7 two-berth cabins regions. In 1939 he became associate Accommodation: 17 cabins (15 single, 2 four-berth) professor at the hydroraphic section of the Department of Geophysics, and in 1947 he succeeded Bjørn Helland-Hansen as professor at Bergen Museum which in 1948 became the University of Bergen.

Håkon Mosby played a central role in the development and organisation of oceanographic research at national and inter­national level. He was director of the Department of Geophysics for two periods, and from 1966 to 1971 he was rector of the University of Bergen (UoB).

32 33 The fleet today Johan Hjort" (4) ”Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" (2)

The newest "Johan Hjort", which is the 1995, "Johan Hjort" was fitted with a When it was decided that it was time "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" gives students and fourth in a row of research vessels with dropkeel containing the echo-sounder to replace the old "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" scientific personnel from our development this name, was designed on the basis of and sonar transducers. This set-up works with a new vessel, the Institute of Marine partner countries an ideal opportunity to learn modern marine research which can the Institute's good experience with so well that good acoustic measurements Research had only recently taken delivery of the new "Johan Hjort", which was one create a basis for rational fisheries "G.O. Sars" (2) from 1970. A vessel of can be made even in heavy gales. of the most advanced marine research management. that size had proven its working efficiency Nowadays, all new ocean-going research vessels in the world. It was therefore only in the rough weather-conditions of the vessels have such retractable dropkeel. natural that the team responsible for Norwegian and Barents Seas. The new planning the new "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" "Johan Hjort" was therefore constructed should incorporate both drawings and with a good length and a modern hull experience from "Johan Hjort". design which made it so sea-kindly that Shipyard: Flekkefjord Slipp & Maskinfabrikk AS The new international helper was not to work on board is not held back to any Kvina Verft AS be inferior to our domestic flagship, and Shipyard: Flekkefjord Slipp & Maskinfabrikk AS extent even in the Barents Sea in mid- Built: 1990 in fact the two vessels almost look like Built: 1993 winter. An important advance in this Length: 64.4 m sister ships in terms of design, internal Length: 56.8 m Beam: 13.0 m layout and scientific equipment. This is Beam: 12.5 m respect was the fitting of de-icing gear on Tonnage: 1950 grt also rational in purely research terms, Tonnage: 1444 grt the foredeck, as was the fact that winches Main engine: Wärtsilä Wichmann diesel, 8V28B, Main engine: Wärtsilä Wichmann diesel 6L28B, and other items of deck equipment were 3264 Hp (2400 kW) given that both research and technical MCR 1980 kW (2700 Hp) Class: Det Norske Veritas +1A1, Ice 1B (hull), personnel alternate between cruises in largely built in under protective housings. Class: Det Norske Veritas +1A Ice 1C, Ice 1C (propeller) domestic waters with the Institute’s MV, EO, Stern Trawler It was hoped that "Johan Hjort" could be Accommodation: 24 single, 5 two-berth cabins vessels and cruises on board "Dr. Fridtjof Accommodation: 23 cabins (33 berths) brought into service without a long period Nansen". Acoustic equipment, marine of trials, and the Institute managed to do environment instrumentation and trawl so. A very solid, good research vessel, set-ups are identical. This also makes it was the verdict of the scientists after its easier to utilise the same or similar methods, first season of operation. compare and exchange experiences, and to use the results and experiences gained In order to reduce surface noise (bubble for example in West African waters in our formation by the hull in bad weather) own Scandinavian waters, and vice versa. during acoustic measurements, "Johan An important purpose of today's Hjort" was designed in such a way that development cooperation is to build and towed echo-sounder heads could be support competence in fisheries science in deployed from the bottom of the hull. our partner countries. "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" This system did not function well, but in is in this connection an effective instrument.

34 35 "Fangst" "G.O. Sars" (3) - a technological innovation "Fangst" replaced the old "Fjordfangst", which was the boat the Institute used The third "G.O. Sars" represents a new Amidships there is a large "environmental for research studies on the coast and in generation of marine research vessels. hangar" which contains six winches, each the fjords. The Institute does not own With its vibration- and noise-damped of which carries up to 6000 metres of "Fangst", but has chartered the vessel on diesel generators and its propellers driven cable for lowering instruments to the a long-term basis. by direct-current motors, "G.O. Sars" is deepest parts of the sea. One of the "Fangst" is only about half a metre longer an extremely quiet vessel under way. It winches is loaded with fibre optic cable, than "Fjordfangst", but has a greater beam emits only 1 % of the noise under water which is capable of transferring large and is more roomy. The boat has three emitted by comparable conventional quantities of data. At the after end of the double cabins and provides good living and research vessels. This means that the fish trawl-deck are two winches for towing working conditions for its crew and scientific that are to be registered by the vessel’s plankton sampling equipment and personnel. There is ample deck-space and acoustic instruments are not scared off, remotely operated underwater vehicles a small wet laboratory. The vessel is ideal giving the scientists better biomass (ROVs). "G.O. Sars" contains several for many tasks of the research group fish Shipyard: Båt & Motorservice AS, Rørvik measurements of the fish in the sea. special laboratories for performing capture such as behavioural studies and Built: 2000 environmental, plankton and fish analyses, "G.O. Sars" has a roomy and well equipped trials of new types of fishing gear. The Length: 15.0 m and the aim is that most of the analysis of Beam: 5.5 m trawl-deck, 18 m broad, is equipped with Institute’s aquaculture scientists also use data will be carried out on board before Draught: 3.2 m two sets of trawl winches, and has room "Fangst" frequently. the vessel returns to port. Tonnage: 25 grt for two complete sets of trawl-doors. A small vessel such as "Fangst" has low Main engine: Fiat IVECO, 8210 SRM-36, 400 Hp Accommodation: 3 two-berth cabins This means that a pelagic trawl can be The vessel is also equipped to collect core running costs in comparison with the deployed as soon as the bottom trawl samples 25 metres into seabed sediments. Institute’s ocean-going research vessels, has been hauled. The scientists can thus A special echo-sounder will be capable of and it is a good, cost-effective facility for combine cod and capelin studies, studying sediments as much as 150 m many types of coastal studies and research for example, on the same cruise. below the seabed. "G.O. Sars" is able to projects. carry out seismic studies using towed The efficiency of research cruises has air-guns and hydrophones. also been improved by the fact that "G.O. Sars" has sufficient engine power Advanced acoustic instruments, as to tow a large pelagic trawl at speeds as echo-sounders and sonars, makes us high as 5–6 knots, which is important when capable of detecting and recording fish representative samples of fast-swimming throughout the water column, from the fish such as mackerel are being taken. surface down to the seabed.

36 37 "G.O. Sars" has an echo-sounder that important. Again, "G.O. Sars" proved operates at six different frequencies to be an excellent technological simultaneously. Three multi-beam sonars research platform. The vessel spent are also installed to identify and measure 12 weeks in the Atlantic portion of shoals of fish. A special echo-sounder can the Southern Ocean, in addition to chart the seabed topography, while yet 4 weeks off the coast of Brazil and 4 another measures ocean currents. weeks off Namibia. In 2003, "G.O. Sars" was voted by the Norwegian maritime industry to be "The ship of the year".

In accordance with the ship pool Shipyard: Flekkefjord Slipp & Maskinfabrikk AS arrange­ment, 25 % of the available Built: 2003 research time of "G.O. Sars" is currently Length: 77.5 m Beam: 16.4 m used by the University of Bergen. Depth to 1st deck: 6.2 m "G.O. Sars" has completed two large Depth to 2nd deck: 9.1 m Tonnage: 4 067 grt expeditions, MAR-ECO in 2004 and Main engine: Diesel-electric, three generators AKES in 2007–2008. MAR-ECO was part totalling 8,100 kw of the international research programme Class: DNV +1A1 Ice C, Eo, Dynpos AUT, Clean Census of Marine Life, which involved Top speed: 17 knots; cruising speed 11–13 knots Accommodation: 45 persons (19 single and scientists from 16 nations. The purpose 13 double-berth cabins) of the cruise was to improve the know- ledge of animal life along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Iceland and the Azores. "G.O. Sars" turned out to be a very suitable research platform. Trawl hauls were made at depths down to 3,600 meters, and more than 80,000 individual organisms were collected for further analyses. Amongst the aims of AKES, Antarctic Krill Ecosystem Studies, was to study the Antarctic ecosystem, in which krill is very

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