Viking Cruises recently announced that after many observations of the rare Stygiomedusa gigantea (often referred to as the "giant phantom jellyfish"), the Viking Expedition team published its first scientific paper since its establishment earlier this year, becoming the first cruise line to publish a scientific paper. In early 2022, the Viking expedition team spotted the jellyfish during diving activities off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Despite its large size, up to 10 meters in length, only 126 observations have been recorded since the species was first documented in 1910. During the first season of the Viking Expedition Cruise in Antarctica in 2022, the submarine sent by Viking Octantis® directly observed the giant phantom jellyfish three times and took valuable photos and video materials.
Viking expedition cruise ship submarine | A giant phantom jellyfish photographed by a Viking expedition |
The two chief scientists of Viking Cruises wrote a scientific paper based on information provided by the submarine team. Using the Viking Antarctic and its sister ship Viking Polaris® as examples, the paper demonstrates for the first time how private submarines can create opportunities for polar biological expeditions and allow researchers to dive into unexplored waters. As public expeditions are popular with expedition cruise ship guests, the paper also mentions the possibility of collecting scientific data from guests who dive on submarines. Lead author Dr Daniel Moore said: "It is surprising that we know so little about a sea creature as large as the giant phantom jellyfish. However, now that we can make regular observations deeper underwater, the chances of making new discoveries will be greatly increased. ”
The scientific paper was published in the journal Polar Research, founded by the Norwegian Polar Institute, at http://dx.doi.org/10.33265/polar.v42.8873.
"In creating the 'Wise Man's Adventure', we want every voyage to create opportunities for scientific discovery." Mr. Torstein Hagen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Viking Cruises, said, "The core theme of Viking Adventure Cruises is to carry out meaningful scientific work. Happily, in just one season, our expedition cruise fleet and team of scientists have already made breakthroughs in polar ocean scientific expeditions. We look forward to discovering more significant research opportunities in our journey ahead." ”
Viking Adventure Cruise "Viking Antarctica"
About Viking Expedition Team & Research Partners
Through partnerships with renowned academic institutions, Viking Cruises offers a world-leading environment for professional scientific experiences in expeditions. During each expedition, guest fellows from partner institutions join a team of 36 Viking expeditions. This team of experts in a variety of fields will lead meaningful scientific work, guide and narrate during shore excursions, and lead world-class knowledge lectures.
"Viking Antarctica and Viking Polaris are reinterpreting the image of the scientific expedition as the 'ship of opportunity'." Dr. Damon Stanwell-Smith, Head of Science and Sustainability at Viking Cruises, said, "On every voyage, our guests are able to engage in real, meaningful scientific activities. At the heart of our Science Experience service is to provide a platform for guests to spend time with professionals and gain insight into discoveries made during expeditions. We believe that many scientific papers will be born from the research activities of Viking Expedition Cruises in the future.
"I've been on a Viking cruise ship and the experience is beyond imagination and has benefited me a lot." Guests who participated in the Viking Expedition cruise said in an interview, "It is really rare to be in the vast world of ice and snow, in a place where you can hear penguin calls and birdsong. "Click on the link (https://v.qq.com/x/page/l3506tzwbyt.html) to watch the Viking Adventure Cruises guest feedback video.
In April 2022, Viking Cruises announced a further deepening of its collaboration with the University of Cambridge – the creation of a new professorship aimed at advancing polar environmental science research. The Viking Polar Marine Geoscience Fund has provided the first wholly funded professorship at the University of Cambridge's Scott Polar Institute (SPRI) – the Viking Chair of Polar Marine Geoscience. This new position will help strengthen Scott's leadership in polar research and help open up new directions in polar environmental behavior research, including polar ice caps, sea ice floes, and ocean circulation.
The Science Foundation builds on Viking Cruises' existing partnership with the Scott Polar Institute at the University of Cambridge. The Scott Polar Institute played a key role in the development of the scientific expedition program for Viking Expedition Cruises. Professionals from the institute participated in the development of The Science Lab on the Viking Expedition Cruise, which covers an area of approximately 35.3 square meters and is equipped with wet and dry laboratory facilities designed to support a wide range of research activities. Julian Dowdeswell, professor of physical geography at the University of Cambridge and former director of the Scott Polar Institute, has also been invited to chair the Viking Research Advisory Group, a group of top scientists from Viking Cruise partners, who oversee field research on board.
The Science Lab on a Viking Expedition Cruise ship
In addition to the University of Cambridge's Scott Polar Institute, Viking Cruises' other research partners include the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), the Norwegian Water Institute (NIVA), the Norwegian Polar Institute, Oceanites, and Fjord Phyto, IUCN Species Survival Commission's Species Monitoring Specialist Group.
About Viking Adventure Cruises
Viking Cruises offers destination experiences centered on adventure tours in the Antarctic region and the Great Lakes region of North America, operated by a fleet of expedition cruise ships including Viking Antarctica and Viking Polaris. Operated by the design team that designed the award-winning Viking Longship and Viking Sea Vessel, both expedition cruises are new vessels built specifically for polar exploration and can accommodate up to 378 guests, with dimensions that greatly meet the need for safety, comfort and onboard facilities while sailing to remote destinations. The interior and exterior areas on board are larger than those of other expedition vessels, allowing guests to get closer to some of the most magnificent natural landscapes on earth.
Finse Terrace | Comfortable and luxurious room experience |
Editor-in-charge: Sylvia