The Ships

RRS James Cook

Track the ships

Where are they?

Use the above link to see where the research vessels are at any given time. I will be on board the RRS James Cook with their wonderful crew and the science team. We are the Process Ship. We measure chemical and biological processes in the ocean. Our ship will appear as JC214 on the map.

The other primary vessel on this field campaign is the RRS Discovery. The Discovery is the Survey Ship which will zig-zag around the process ship, using sensors and sampling the water- surveying the water around us. They will appear as DY131.

You can also search vessels here. Type "James Cook" (British Research Vessel), "Discovery" (British Research Vessel), "Sarmiento de Gamboa" (Spanish Research Vessel).

If you have Google Earth, follow this link to the KML files and use the shore-side KML to see assets, ships, and local altimetry.

Google Earth view of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) site off the coast of France. April 2021, with DY130 Cruise who deployed some seagliders for us before we are even there!

Details of the Vessel

RRS James Cook

"How big is the ship? How many people are on board? What does a science lab look like on a research vessel? Where do you sleep?!"

Here are some quick facts about the RRS James Cook. To learn more and take a virtual tour, click the link above!

Name: Royal Research Ship James Cook

Operated by: National Oceanographic Center (NOC)

How old: Built in 2005

Length: 293 ft

How many people: 26 scientists + 22 officers, crew, and technicians

How fast: up to 10 knots

What does a lab look like: Take the virtual tour!

Who is James Cook: Captain James Cook was a 1700s British explorer and cartographer. Learn More

The RRS James Cook at sea. Image from NOC.