" Today, the job takes on a much more maritime aspect, with the functions for which we were trained. But we still have to adapt the science mission to the navigation and environment in which we sail, in agreement with the mission manager. Particularly this year, we have to juggle with the ice in southern Greenland . We had to interrupt navigation and wait for a path through the ice ,assessing the risks as best we could while discovering the ship’s behavior in the ice. There’s often this dilemma between the success of the scientific mission and the risks involved for the boat and the people onboard. As a captain, I have to make the right choice in order to stay in a sufficiently safe zone without forgetting our mission.
But we have to admit that most of the time, things work out and we find solutions.
It is also a joy for me to return to Greenland’s waters, to rediscover its unique landscapes between the white of the ice and the green and grey of the land, to slalom through these fjords where every bend offers a new scenario. We discover glaciers thousands of years old, sometimes surprising rocks that hint at the work of tectonic plates. Greenland also has a welcoming population and a culture that remains strong despite the influence of Europe.
FOREL, a good vessel for good missions, for good expeditions. »
Photo : @julien.girardot.photography