All Cruises

P16C: Papeete to Honolulu

March 10, 2027

The white research vessel Thomas G. Thompson moored at a wharf, with the town on a hillside behind it
The R/V Thomas G. Thompson berthed in Fremantle, Australia, in 2019. Credit: Bahnfrend (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Cruise track waypoints, marking stations where the track deviated more than 0.1° from a straight line. Lines connect consecutive waypoints. Full station information is provided in the Data page.

Overview

GO-SHIP P16C (Leg 2) runs along roughly 150°–152°W in the central Pacific aboard the R/V Thomas G. Thompson (University of Washington), from March 10 to April 14, 2027, for 36 days at sea. Mobilization in Papeete takes place March 9, 2027, with an overlap day on March 8.

  • Start: Papeete, Tahiti
  • End: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, USA

Leadership

  • Chief Scientist: Colette Kelly (LDEO, Columbia University)
  • Co-Chief Scientist: Aurélie Moulin (UW Applied Physics Lab)
  • Captain: Eric Haroldson

Ship and crew

R/V Thomas G. Thompson (University of Washington), with about 34 science berths.

Operations

  • 115 core GO-SHIP stations from 17.5°S to 22.5°N, including an initial overlap/test station continuing from P16S.
  • High-resolution station spacing (every 10 nm) across and near the equator.
  • Full suite of core physical and chemical hydrography (CTD, salts, O₂, nutrients, DIC, pCO₂, alkalinity, pH, tracers), Bio-GO-SHIP parameters, eDNA, UVP, FDOM, aerosols, isotopic tracers, and BGC-Argo and Deep Argo float deployments.

Planning information

Data management and archival. All core hydrographic data are processed and submitted to the CCHDO (CLIVAR and Carbon Hydrographic Data Office) following standard GO-SHIP guidelines.

Logistics and compliance.

  • Strict biosecurity regulations apply (e.g., New Zealand biosecurity clearance, ISPM-15 compliant treated wood standards for shipping containers).
  • All participating personnel must complete required onboarding profiles (such as UNOLS Marine Facilities Planning) and review the US GO-SHIP Code of Conduct.
  • Mandatory pre-cruise training (such as joint Bystander Intervention Training) is coordinated ahead of field operations.