Leaving from Wellington, the RV Tangaroa is spending approximately 39 days at sea, including 30 within the Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60°S). The main survey area is the Western Ross Sea from Iselin Bank to Cape Adare and as far south as The Ross Ice Shelf front.
Tangaroa carries a total of 38 persons, comprising 18 officers and crew, and 20 scientific and technical staff. It includes participants from all over, including Australia, Europe, India and the UK.
The team is focused on understanding physical oceanographic processes relating to (i) climate and (ii) the ecological health of areas of the Ross Sea with implications for the MPA. The main science objectives are aligned with Antarctic Science Platform (ASP) Projects 2 and 3 and follow on from the 2023, 2021 and 2019 Tangaroa voyages.
Key focal points in the 2025 voyage are:
- sampling related to water masses
- population changes of benthic communities
- eDNA of benthic and mid-water species
- biogenic sampling of underwater seeps
- near surface biogeochemistry, and biogenic aerosols.
The voyage is supported by funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, the Antarctic Science Platform, NIWA Strategic Science Investment Funds, University of Auckland, University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, University of Canterbury, and overseas funding agencies.
Voyage information and updates
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TAN2502 voyage update - 17 January 2025
The latest update from TAN2502 Ross Sea RV Tangaroa “ACTUATE” Voyage -
Antarctic voyage to venture further south than ever before
News article14 January 2025Thirty eight scientists and crew have set sail this week for Antarctica on NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa, with the aim of going as far south as the Ross Ice Shelf - a first for the ship.
