Mapping the Northwest Passage
Photos: John Hughes Clarke

UNB's research vessel, the CSL Heron, was to go north onboard the Amundsen, focusing on collecting shallow water multibeam bathymetry while the Amundsen was anchored at scientific stations (see previous news item). Unfortunately, before sailing north, a mechanical failure of the winching systems onboard the Amundsen caused severe damage to the Heron's hull. As such, she could not accompany the Amundsen on her trip north. Nonetheless, the Amundsen carried on with mapping operations during the transit to the arctic and throughout the Northwest Passage.

A small amount of survey work was completed where the 2,500 metre isobath intersects the border, after which the Amundsen turned around and transited between scientific stations, returning to Kugluktuk, Nunavut, for a crew change on September 15th. Since then, Jason Bartlett (former UNB undergraduate, presently employed by the Canadian Hydrographic Service) and Reza Ghoddousi-Fard (UNB graduate student), have completed the return trip through the Passage exiting in Baffin Bay through Lancaster Sound. Steaming south, they rounded the southern tip of Baffin Island, entering Hudson Strait, their destination being Hudson Bay where most of their work will be focused. While the Amundsen is underway, the multibeam echosounder is continually mapping, the hope being to build up coverage of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago with each successive transit through the Northwest Passage.

Below are photos taken during the CCGS Amundsen's mapping operations in the Arctic Archipelago.