ARICE-PONANT Call for Ship-Time in the Antarctic

Access to the Southern Ocean on board the Polar Expedition Ship ‘Le Commandant Charcot’ (PONANT, France).

One of the main goals of ARICE (EU funded Arctic Research Icebreaker Consortium) is to use the increase in vessel traffic in the polar regions to foster the availability of environmental data for research purposes. Through the project’s established dialogue with the maritime industry, the project aims at supporting a ‘ships and platforms of opportunity programme’ in this area. The calls for ship-time proposals to board Le Commandant Charcot are the first joint initiative between ARICE and the maritime industry under the programme.

Le Commandant Charcot is a polar expedition ship state-of-the-art icebreaker (PC2 Class) owned and operated by the company PONANT (France). The vessel is equipped with scientific laboratories and facilities and offers to host up to four scientists to participate in their regular cruises to perform scientific projects.

The scientific community is invited to carry out research activities within any field of polar science including marine-based and terrestrial sciences (ie including geology and biology in the North Antarctic Peninsula, Bellingshausen Sea, Margarite Bay, Weddell Sea, Snowhill Island, Charcot Island and Peter 1st Island), and social sciences (restrictions may apply).

The scientific berths are offered free of charge (in single or multiple legs). A collaboration in one and up to five seasons is sought.