R/V Princess is the ship I’m on. Sometimes it’s listed as M/V Princess. Depends on where you look or who you ask. R/V is Research Vessel while M/V is Motor Vessel. Originally commissioned as the “Polar Princess”. Not sure why the name was changed, most likely a change of ownership. There are 43 souls on board covering about 14 different nationalities between ships crew and seismic crew. Ship’s crew is mainly Norwegian and Polish with a Russian and Danish thrown in for good measure. Seismic crew is French, British, Aussie, Canadian, Mexican, American, Salvadoran, Philippino, and a couple of others. Three women on this cruise, two Polish stewardesses and one Philippino processor. The processor is a seismic crewmember. The stewardesses are part of the boat crew and keep the place livable. We also have a doctor on board.

>The Princess has a length of 75 meters with a beam (width) of 14 meters. She draws 5.7 meters and has 27 meters above the water line. Designed and built in Norway, as a northern seismic vessel, the keel was laid around 1986 and is re-enforced for ice cutting. She carries a Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) and a work boat. She also carries (6) 25-man Viking life rafts (max crew capacity is 50).

There are six decks on the vessel. The lowest deck is called the Tank Top because it sits above the fuel, water, hydraulic, and pneumatic tanks. Engines, compressors and propulsion systems are on this level, which is below the waterline. Second deck is called the Main Deck and contains the Instrument Room (aka Dog House) and living quarters. There is also a small workout room (very small) and a sauna on this level. I berth on the Main Deck and my floor is just about the waterline. Waves are hitting my porthole all the time. Third deck is the Shelter Deck with the galley, mess, day room and more living quarters. The Shelter Deck is has the outside covered walkway. Fourth and final full deck is the Forecastle Deck. Living quarters and open outside deck on this level. The Super Deck 01 are living quarters for the Captain, First Engineer, First Mate, Doctor, as well as the hospital (one bed), another day room, and ship’s office. Super Deck 01 is not a full deck but larger than the Bridge. The Bridge sits above SuperDeck 01 and has the official designation of SuperDeck 02. Bridge sounds a hell of a lot better.

The ships crew changes on a 5 and 10 week rotation. Officers and doctor stay onboard for five weeks. Balance of ship’s crew rotates on 10 weeks. Seismic crew has a five week rotation.  Since I joined the ship in mid-rotation I hope to stay on for the next rotation giving me a total of eight weeks on board.