August 3-4

Our first research station, Open Water, started today when Oden moved slowly into the wind for 24h. All instruments, pumps, and methods are being tested. Some worked, some did not. Some labs lost power, others did not. We have so many sophisticated instruments on board that the power (electricity) demands are VERY high. We had many fuses burned and breakers tripped. The ship's engineers and the staff from the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat (also known as Polar, who provide enormous and strategic support to all scientists- thank you!) were extremely busy. Not much sleep for anyone. Our labs also had problems with power, with lack of flowing seawater in the lab, with misplaced - but finally found- supplies. There is lots of sharing of parts, cables, tools, etc among all the scientists as we help each other solve problems.