How It Works - UK (2020-02)

SCIENCE

Thismobilelaboratoryis designedto spendmonthsatsea

Anatomy of a

scientific drillship

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by
Adr

an

Mann

Thederrickis thetallestpartoftheship

©Getty

©Ar

ito Saka

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The JR requires calm seas in order to drill down for sediment samples

It takes 65 crew members and up to 50 scientists to run © Alamy each expedition

AR ZONE!

SCAN HERE

AR ZONE!

Derrick A 62-metre towerholdsthe machinerythat raisesand lowersthedrill.

Coredeck Sedimentcoresgotothecore deckforprocessing.They’re sampled,photographedand recordedhere.

Helideck A helicopterpadatthe backoftheshipallows peopletocomeandgo whiletheJRis atsea.

Holddeck Thecrewkeepfood suppliesin coldstorage in theholddeckatthe bottomoftheship.

Moonpool A seven-metrehole opensintothesea underthederrick, allowingthedrillstring todropthrough.

Drillstring Thisstringof hollowmetalpipes sendsa powered drillbitintothe oceanfloor.

Fo’c’s’ledeck Fo’c’s’leis shortfor ‘forecastle’.It’sunderthe coredeckandcontains chemistry,microbiology, palaeontologyand x-raylabs.