IODP

doi:10.2204/iodp.pr.320T.2009

Abstract

The Sea Trials and Assessment of Readiness Transit (START), or Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 320T, was planned as a shakedown of the R/V JOIDES Resolution. The ship, operated under the auspices of the United States Implementing Organization (USIO) as part of IODP, has just completed an extensive 115+ million dollar refit in Jurong Shipyard, Singapore. The scientific research vessel spent 29 months (September 2006–January 2009) in Singapore, where the ship's hotel and laboratory structure was replaced and the marine and drilling systems were completely refurbished. The overall objectives of Expedition 320T included a shakedown of the ship's drilling, coring, and downhole logging capabilities, in particular the testing of the new wireline heave compensator. Additionally, all the scientific laboratory analytical systems, computer applications, and data uploading/storage capabilities were assessed. Lastly, this expedition served to relocate the ship from Southeast Asia to Hawaii for the start of IODP-USIO Phase 2 science operations in the equatorial Pacific (Expeditions 320 and 321).