Cruise Report, RV ATAIR, Cruise 0671021-1, Bremerhaven - Thyboron - Aberdeen, 18 Jul —- 10 Aug 2023 
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On 4 August, between around 03:00 and 06:00 UTC, the flow direction of the tidal stream 
allowed the vessel to pass the Pentland Firth in westward direction. Station work was resumed 
at station #081/GN057A around 06:45 UTC. Starting from station #082/GN056, the vessel fol- 
iowed a course towards the northeast in order to carry out sampling at five stations in total. 
These stations form a measurement line along the western side of the Orkney and Shetland 
Islands that crosses the Atlantic inflow pathways in this region (see Figure 1.1). The northern- 
most station of this line and that of the entire cruise was reached on 5 August shortly before 
98:00 UTC (station #086/GN054A, 60°30’N). 
Having finished station work on the western side of the Shetland Islands, the vessel headed 
towards the southeast, passed Fair Isle and reached station #088/GN053D on the northeast- 
arn side of the Orkney Islands (5 August). From there, the vessel turned to the north at first 
and subsequently started to pursue station work along the 60°N section at station #091/GN053 
an 6 August. While following the 60°N section in eastward direction, weather and sea state 
zonditions started to deteriorate. Stations #097/GN051S and #098/GN051A located in Norwe- 
gian waters could still be carried out on 7 August. However, the location of the originally 
olanned station GN051 near the Norwegian coast could not be reached anymore. The 60°N 
section could thus not be completely followed until its eastern end. Instead, course was 
changed in order to reach station #099/GN050S at 59°30’N further to the south. 
Station works finally had to be finished at station #100/GN050 in the afternoon hours of 7 
August. Sampling work had to be aborted, and all remaining station work was canceled for the 
rest of the cruise time, since high sea swell and wind strengths of 9-10 Bf did not allow anymore 
for safe station work. Instead, the vessel was made ‘storm-proof’, all equipment was safely 
stored and scientific devices secured. 
Between 7 and 10 August the vessel headed towards its destination port, which was Aberdeen, 
UK. The ship’s speed had to be decreased considerably, and the course had to be changed 
frequently in order to adjust to the stormy weather and sea state conditions and to keep eve- 
ryone on board safe. Further station work was not possible. Consequently, measurements 
along 59°N are not available for summer 2023 (except station GN050). Also, the originally 
intended and yet remaining stations located to the east of the Orkney Islands could not be 
sampled. Out of the originally 111 intended hydrographic stations, 100 including a test station 
zould be successfully sampled, and data from 11 stations is thus not available due to weather 
conditions. 
While heading towards the port of Aberdeen, the scientific crew aboard RV ATAIR received a 
request issued by British scientists in order to help retrieving a scientific glider, which was on 
mission near Aberdeen. While the request for help was answered positively and active help 
was offered, it was not needed in the end, since the British scientists could retrieve the glider 
by own means. 
Continuous logging of underway data was stopped on 10 August, 07:00 UTC, which marked 
the end of the scientific mission of cruise 067/021-1 with RV ATAIR. At 10:00 UTC, the vessel 
arrived at the pilot station of Aberdeen and took the pilot onboard. The vessel was finally towed