Early termination of the U.S. and U.K. cruises

A medical situation on board the RRS Discovery has required the U.K. GEOTRACES cruise sailing along 40ºS in the Atlantic has had to turn back to Cape Town about one third of the way into its journey across the Atlantic. Following drop off the patient in Cape Town and being the diagnosis optimistic, the RSS Discovery returned to sea but the loss of time caused by the unexpected transit back to Cape Town means that the cruise will not be able to complete the planned scientific section across the South Atlantic to Uruguay. The remaining ship time will be used to increase the resolution and the range of measurements made along the eastern portion of the GEOTRACES A10 Section.

Due to mechanical problems, the U.S. ship has also had to turn back into port in the Cape Verde Islands to be repaired. However, being the changes of making repairs in port nil, the U.S. GEOTRACES cruise has had to be cancelled and the participants returned home. The cruise has completed about one third of its scientific programme.

These are unfortunate setbacks but we hope that both the U.S. and the U.K. programs will have the opportunity in the future to complete their scientific objectives.

We wish the U.K. GEOTRACES cruise participant requiring medical assistance a full recovery.