Araonho Sets Off on 60-Day Arctic Voyage... Sails Without Docking to Prevent 'COVID-19'

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Polar Research Institute announced on the 16th that the Araon, the country's only icebreaking research vessel, is set to embark on a 60-day Arctic voyage equipped with measures to prevent COVID-19 infection.

The Araon will depart from Gwangyang Port on the 17th, conduct Arctic research in the Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, and other areas, and return on September 15. To prevent COVID-19 infection, all 54 crew members will board domestically, and the vessel will sail for 60 days without docking. This is the first time since the Araon began Arctic voyages in 2010 that it will navigate the Arctic without docking.

The research team aboard the Araon will investigate the causes of the high-temperature phenomenon in the seas around the Korean Peninsula and observe the movements of Arctic currents during this Arctic voyage.

The team will explore the ocean and atmosphere in the Bering Sea, a gateway from the Pacific Ocean to the Arctic Ocean, and investigate the "blocking phenomenon," identified as one of the causes of the high-temperature phenomenon. The blocking phenomenon occurs when the upper-level high pressure in the mid-latitude region, where the westerlies blow, becomes stationary, weakening the east-west winds and strengthening the north-south winds. Additionally, acoustic observation equipment will be installed on the seabed to continuously record and collect three-dimensional changes in the ocean.

Next, the team will move to the Chukchi Sea and other areas to observe sea ice in the Arctic international waters and analyze the impact of warm seawater inflow into the Arctic Ocean on sea ice and the Arctic marine ecosystem.

Every year, the research team has stopped the Araon on sea ice above latitude 75 degrees or higher to directly observe the thickness and characteristics of the ice. However, this year, to prevent COVID-19 infection, research will be conducted only onboard. The number of research sites has been reduced from three to two, and the voyage schedule has been shortened by 35 days compared to last year. Furthermore, all crew members adhered to two weeks of lifestyle quarantine, tested negative for COVID-19, and were isolated in separate facilities starting five days before departure. To prepare for any emergencies, medical staff capable of diagnosing COVID-19 infection will accompany the voyage, and modular negative-pressure isolation beds have been installed to isolate suspected or confirmed cases if necessary.