6 Cruise Report, RV ATAIR, Cruise 067I033-1, Bremerhaven – Thybor?n – Aberdeen, 23 Jul – 15 Aug 2024 3. Purpose of the Cruise & Research Objectives Figure 1.1 Track of cruise 067I033-1 with RV ATAIR and locations of corresponding hydrographic sta- tions shown as red markers. Text labels denote station names. Thin grey lines highlight the limits of the various Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) according to the Maritime Boundaries Geodatabase version 11.0 of Flanders Marine (2019). Cruise 067I033-1 with RV ATAIR served to conduct the annual large-scale North Sea Summer Survey (NSSS) of the BSH. Surveys similar to cruise 067I033-1 have been undertaken annu- ally by the BSH since 1998. These surveys generally follow a predefined net of standard sta- tions forming zonal sections crossing the North Sea at different latitudes between 54°N and 60°N. Additional stations are located to the south of 54°N forming a loop-like station pattern that stretches to about 52°N near the southern entrance to the North Sea. The annual North Sea Summer Survey is typically carried out at or close to the time of the expected maximum stratification and with phytoplankton productivity having passed its peak.