Vessels
How do the vessels dispose of garbage and other physical waste?
ARF minimizes the amount of garbage we create aboard our vessels, and all garbage we do create is stored aboard the ship until the vessel reaches a port that has the appropriate facilities to dispose of it correctly. All of our ships are equipped with onboard sewage treatment systems that use a natural aerobic bacteria to break down the waist before it is discharged overboard. This process eliminates the dumping of raw sewage that could damage sensitive marine ecosystems.
How do the vessels affect marine life?
Unfortunately, all vessels impact marine environments by their very presence. However, ARF has made it a priority to minimize those impacts. Noise from ships can disturb or displace marine life, pollutants from vessels can be harmful and vessels can sometimes strike marine animals.
We take every possible precaution to minimize the effects of our ships on the marine ecosystem. We avoid all marine protected areas unless expressly authorized for research purposes.We correctly dispose of all waste created aboard our vessels, utilize mufflers on our engines to minimize noise pollution, and work to conduct research in the most efficient manner possible to minimize time spent operating in any sensitive areas.
What kind of science instruments are on the vessels?
Our vessels can be outfitted with a wide range of equipment depending on research needs. Some of the most common instruments include: a rosette to take water samples at various depths; CTD (conductivity, temperature, and depth,) an instrument used to measure the salt content and temperature of seawater at different depths. Sediment sampling equipment to gather seafloor samples; and multi-beam sonar, which creates a virtual picture of the bottom of the ocean.
Do trawlers damage organisms in the ecosystem? Are there less invasive options?
Trawls are an important tool used to collect samples of marine invertebrates on or close to the seafloor. This is an area referred to as benthic habitat.
Trawls do impact the benthic habitat where they operate. However, there is no way to effectively collect diverse benthic fish and invertebrate specimens without somehow affecting habitats.
Traps affect a smaller area, but are less effective, can still damage ecosystems, and would require vessels to spend more time in sensitive areas.
That said, ARF has reduced its duration of trawls from 30 to 15 minutes at a time to minimize impact and maximize specimen collection, and studies have shown this type of research trawling has an exponentially smaller impact than commercial trawling (which often lasts several hours at a time).
Where do the vessels travel?
ARF currently has four research vessels operating across the Arctic and one vessel operating on Canada’s west coast of.
- The Martin Bergmann is based in Cambridge Bay, NU, and operates throughout the Kitikmeot region
- The Jenny Pierre is also based in Cambridge Bay and provides support to Martin Bergmann
- The William Kennedy is based in Halifax, NS and operates in the Hudson Bay and the east coast of Canada
- The Nahidik is based in Hay River, NYT, and currently operates Great Slave Lake and the McKenzie River. It is also capable of working in the Beaufort Sea.
- The Tiriarnaq is based on Vancouver Island and is capable of operating along the entire west coast of Canada and southern Alaska.
Mobile Labs
How are the labs moved from place to place?
Our mobile labs are constructed using recycled shipping containers and are easily moved by truck or ship. In the winter the labs can be moved over sea ice using sleds and other machinery, granting them access to extremely remote areas.
How are they powered?
The labs are powered by a self-contained wind and solar system that is mounted on the top and sides of the containers. The power is stored in state-of-the-art batteries housed within the container. Diesel generators can also be used when backup power is needed.
What kind of batteries are used and how do they function in the cold?
The labs store power using lead-acid gel batteries. All batteries function less efficiently in the cold, however, gel batteries perform much better in the cold temperatures than standard lead-acid batteries and are more resistant to freezing.
How do you account for the solar loss in the winter?
The mobile lab utilizes both wind and solar power. Depending on the region, winds often remain strong throughout the winter months. When there is no sun the wind turbines pick up the slack. Diesel generators can also be used for backup power
Naurvik
How are the growing pods heated?
The pods are heated using electric heaters with power generated by Canada’s northernmost solar and wind array. The pods are heavily insulated, which considerably reduces the amount of power required to keep them warm.
Do they use fuel of any kind? How much?
The pods are powered primarily by solar and wind. Due to the Arctic’s extreme conditions and lack of sunlight in winter, a diesel back-up generator is used to charge the batteries when there are several consecutive days without wind.
Even in the depths of winter, 75 percent of power is still produced by renewable sources.There is no need for backup power in the summer.
ARF has also made it a priority to develop systems that require less diesel power, and our goal is to eliminate the use of back-up diesel power altogether in the coming years.
How much power is provided by the wind turbines?
The pods utilize two 6 kilowatt wind turbines, for a total capacity of 12 kilowatts
Is there enough wind for turbines to be effective in the Arctic?
Weather, and as such wind, varies greatly based on location and time of year. We work with local communities to position pods in locations with optimal wind and sun conditions.
The Naurvik project, for example, sits atop the largest hill in Gjoa Haven; a spot chosen by the elders because it has the best wind conditions in the area.
What crops are they growing?
So far, we have grown a variety of microgreens and lettuces, as well as tomatoes, carrots, and peppers.
Why were those crops chosen?
We have started with simple, easy to grow crops to test and prove the new system, and are now expanding to new crops (e.g., carrots) that are of interest to the community. The complexity and variety of crops will grow from here and be driven by local community priorities.
General Operations
Are you looking for volunteers?
Yes, please contact Christine at: [email protected]
How can I apply for a job with ARF?
Please send your resumé and cover letter to: [email protected]
I am a student; how can I get involved with ARF?
Please contact Christine at: [email protected]
Do you accept donations?
Yes, you can donate to the Arctic Research Foundation by clicking the donate button on arcticfocus.org
Arctic Focus:
How are Arctic Focus and Arctic Research Foundation connected?
Arctic Focus is a collaborative platform hosted by the Arctic Research Foundation meant to tell stories from the Arctic and its peoples. It is a place where community members, elders, hunters, researchers, vessel crew and anyone else with a stake in the Arctic can share their stories and their work.
How do I contribute?
We are always looking for contributions to Arctic Focus, please click the contribute tab on arcticfocus.org or send your idea to [email protected]
Are you looking for freelancers?
Yes, the foundation is always looking for new content, especially from a northern perspective. Please contact [email protected]