Intern-ship: all hands on deck

How is the ocean faring right now, and how is global warming influencing its health? For two years, the core team on the sailing yacht Eugen Seibold—a research vessel operating with funding from the Werner Siemens Foundation—have been collecting data to answer these fundamental questions. The experienced marine researchers often invite junior scientists to join them on the expeditions. For three lucky students from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, the chance came at the end of September 2021, when they spent two weeks working on the Eugen Seibold as interns. The photos illustrate their adventure on the high seas.

The three ETH Zurich students—Sixtine Dromigny, Jonas Schneider and Janine Schmitter—board the world’s cleanest research vessel: the Eugen Seibold. — Morning in Lanzarote, Canary Islands. The three ETH Zurich students—Sixtine Dromigny, Jonas Schneider and Janine Schmitter—board the world’s cleanest research vessel: the Eugen Seibold, where a team of experienced scientists are awaiting them. Over the next two weeks, the interns will learn how to collect and analyse seawater samples.

Oceanographer Hedy Aardema (centre) shows the three interns around the atmosphere lab, where samples—aerosols and other particles—from the lower atmosphere are analysed.

Captain Karl Vahtra plans the route for the next expedition, making adjustments for wind and currents. — Captain Karl Vahtra plans the route for the next expedition (top monitor), making adjustments for wind and currents (lower monitor).

Marine chemist Hans Slagter and data manager David Walter (right) discuss data collection and archiving. In the background, ship steward Adeele Kuslap is preparing lunch for the twelve-member team. — Good communication is key: marine chemist Hans Slagter and data manager David Walter (right) discuss data collection and archiving. In the background, ship steward Adeele Kuslap is preparing lunch for the twelve-member team.

Ship steward Adeele Kuslap while hanging fresh laundry on deck. — Wind is as much a part of the Atlantic Ocean as sanitary lab conditions are a part of research.

The wet lab in the research vessel Eugen Seibold is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments: sitting on the lab bench are a flow cytometer (left) and a Fast Repetition Rate fluorometer (FRRf, centre) used to measure pico-, nano- and microplankton as well as chlorophyll activity. Below the bench is the FerryBox that, second by second, measures the seawater’s temperature, salinity, pH, nutrients and carbon dioxide levels at a depth of three metres, and then characterises the ecology of the ocean’s waters. In the photo, oceanographer Hedy Aardema prepares the filtration of seawater samples for additional analyses.

Intern Jonas Schneider demonstrates how to use the immersion suit that can protect the wearer for several hours in cold water. — In case of emergency: intern Jonas Schneider demonstrates how to use the immersion suit that can protect the wearer for several hours in cold water.

The rosette sampler is one of the most important devices on board. Based on its analyses, the scientists can create a physical, chemical and biological profile of the seawater at various ocean depths—all the way down to 2500 metres. This allows the team to examine the stratification of the seawater, the supply of nutrients and the permeability between upper and lower water layers. Geologist Ralf Schiebel shows the interns how to calibrate the pH meter on the rosette.

Marine chemist Hans Slagter explains how the FerryBox—installed under the lab bench—characterises the ecology of the ocean’s upper layer in detail. To ensure that the FerryBox functions largely in automated mode during an expedition, it has to be tested, cleaned and re-calibrated before setting sail.

Helmsman Argo Kruusmagi ist one of the world’s best and most experienced marine technicians and sailors. — From the start an indispensable part of the Eugen Seibold crew: helmsman Argo Kruusmagi—one of the world’s best and most experienced marine technicians and sailors.

Geologist Ralf Schiebel leads the micropalaeontology research group at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz. — When on land, geologist Ralf Schiebel leads the micropalaeontology research group at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz.

On board the Seibold: a large “air vacuum cleaner”, with a ten-metre-long hose hovers over the poop deck. The “trunk” sucks in air, channelling it directly to the wet lab for analysis. Among the particles in the air is dust, which plays a major role in the climate system—for instance, dust can have a cooling effect because it reflects the sun’s rays. Dust also contains iron and other micronutrients that fertilise the seawater and promote the growth of algae. This has various effects, including a reduction in CO2 levels.

Positioning the water sampling rosette requires skill, as the ship’s motions set the valuable device swinging. In windy weather, the boat can also roll dramatically. Wearing steel-toed shoes and a helmet for protection, Hedy Aardema, Hans Slagter and Ralf Schiebel use rope hoists to stabilise the rosette and carefully manoeuvre it into the sea.

Two of the interns lend a hand: Sixtine Dromigny and Janine Schneider remove water samples from the rosette sampler.

Not a pair of wind-filled trousers, but a pair of zooplankton nets are used to collect plankton samples. The weave is so fine that the nets can collect even the smallest creatures living in the seawater—microzooplankton—which the team then analyse.

The plankton samples go straight to the “belly” of the yacht, where they are prepared for analysis.

The interns observe the fixation procedure for the plankton sample, while oceanographer Hedy Aardema performs an acrobatic feat to reach for a filling hose (top of photo).

The tension mounts. Micropalaeontologist Ralf Schiebel (left) has transferred the magnified view of the microscope live to the computer, and the students wait to discover what intern Janine Schmitter’s (centre) first plankton sample will reveal. Schmitter is interested in studying single-celled organisms living in the sea.

The three students while analyzing the plankton samples. — Janine Schmitter (right) is fascinated: “I would love to work in oceanography one day.”

Space on the Eugen Seibold is limited, so the floor is also used. In the wet lab, Hans Slagter hands intern Sixtine Dromigny the buffer solution for the pH meter. Marine chemist Maria Calleja (back right) is responsible for coordinating work in the wet lab.

ETH student Jonas Schneider is also very happy with his internship on the high seas: “We were fully integrated from the start. The team are just great, and they’re so patient in sharing their knowledge with us.”

Crew, interns and scientists at a meeting. What have we accomplished, and what do we do next? How will the winds and currents change?

Working hard and eating well: project leader Ralf Schiebel (centre) discusses the meal plan with ship steward Adeele Kuslap.

Student Jonas Schneider reading a book on his bed. — Private time and space on the Eugen Seibold are in short supply.

The happy crew after arriving at Marina Rubicón on the south coast of Lanzarote. Top row (from left): marine chemist Maria Calleja, oceanographer Hedy Aardema, marine chemist Hans Slagter, ship steward Adeele Kuslap, geologist and project leader Ralf Schiebel, captain Karl Vahtra. Bottom row (from left): ETH students Jonas Schneider, Sixtine Dromigny and Janine Schmitter, data manager David Walter, helmsman Argo Kruusmagi.

The Eugen Seibold sailing into the sunset. — The interns are absolutely thrilled about their experience on the world’s greenest research vessel. Janine Schmitter says: “These were probably the two most interesting weeks in my life.”

Intern-ship: all hands on deck

Climate data from a yacht

Marine research aboard the Eugen Seibold

Goddess of the waves

Sailing the seas since 2019

The Seibold sets sail

What the Seibold can do

How the oceans influence the climate