Scientific Ocean Drilling Vessel To Make Port Call in Townsville, Australia

(Click to enlarge image) The JOIDES Resolution

For Immediate Release

(Washington, DC) – The JOIDES Resolution (JR) of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) makes its scheduled Port Call in Townsville, Australia November 2-8, 2009. Townsville will play a crucial role in two scientific ocean research expeditions during the week: first, a team of more than 30 scientists from around the world will come to port after completing the eight-week IODP Expedition 324 to the Shatsky Rise Formation in the Pacific Ocean. Then, another team of scientists will embark from Townsville on Expedition 317 to the Canterbury Basin off New Zealand’s South Island.

The Australian-New Zealand IODP Consortium (ANZIC) and the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program-U.S. Implementing Organization (USIO) will welcome press and other guests on Friday, November 6 at 9:00am at the Port of Townsville, for welcome remarks and a tour of the refurbished drilling vessel, JOIDES Resolution.

(Click to enlarge image) Townsville, Australia

The JR is the riserless drilling vessel managed by the U.S. Implementing Organization, and funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.  IODP is an international marine research program dedicated to advancing scientific understanding of the Earth through drilling, coring, and monitoring the subseafloor. The program operates three drilling platforms: the JOIDES Resolution; Chikyu, a riser-equipped vessel provided by Japan; and mission-specific drilling platforms managed by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD).

9:00am – 10:00am     Press Briefing in JR Conference Room

10:00am – 11:00am   Press Tour of JOIDES Resolution

A press briefing will be held in the conference room on the JR on Friday, November 6.  To date, speakers for the press conference include: Local MP (Member of Parliament), James Bidgood, representing Australia’s  Minister for Science; Professor Neville Exon (ANZIC); Brad Clement and David Divins (USIO); Professor Will Sager (Co-Chief Scientist Expedition 324); and Dr. Craig Fulthorpe (Co-Chief Scientist Expedition 317).

To attend the port call and press conference please RSVP to either Sarah Saunders with Consortium for Ocean Leadership (ssaunders@oceanleadership.org) or Jim O’Brien with James Cook University, 07 4781 4822, mobile 0418 892449 (jim.obrien@jcu.edu.au) by Tuesday, November 3.

For more information about the JOIDES Resolution log on to www.joidesresolution.org.

For more information about the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program log on to www.iodp.org.

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Media Contacts:

Sarah Saunders
Consortium for Ocean Leadership
Office: 1-202-448-1239
ssaunders@oceanleadership.org

Jim O’Brien
James Cook University
Office: 07 4781 4822
Mobile: 0418 892449
jim.obrien@jcu.edu.au

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