ABOARD THE JOIDES RESOLUTION, EN ROUTE TO THE BERING SEA– For today’s blog, I’d like to give you some information about the JOIDES Resolution. She (and forgive my use of the pronoun, but I can’t help but to personify her) was built in 1978 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. That’s the home of a couple of my Canadian friends! Hiya Charlene and David. She was just upgraded in 2008 in Singapore. She is 470.5 ft long and 70 ft wide. Her light displacement (the mass of the ship excluding cargo, fuel, ballast, stores, passengers, crew) is 9449 st (st or short tons are equal to 2000 lbs).

The JOIDES Resolution.

She has a minimum water depth of 300 ft and a maximum of 27,000 ft. She can stay at sea for 75 days without re-provisioning and is capable of traveling through the Panama Canal. She is powered by 7 EMD 16 cylinder diesel engines, 5 at 2100 kw (3000 horse power) and 2 at 1500 kw (2200 horse power). She carries 936,000 gallons (3,000 metric tons) of fuel! The derrick is 205 feet above the water line, so she stands tall, even next to the giant cruise ships we saw in Victoria. The deck has three fixed pedestal cranes. And most importantly (to me at least!) she carries 135 people.

The derrick is 205 feet above the water line, so she stands tall, even next to the giant cruise ships we saw in Victoria.

Now I know some of you have other questions about this incredible ship, right? So ask away, and I’ll answer. And if I can’t answer I’ll find the answer. Talk to you next time!